Komsomolskaya Pravda: "Authorised representatives to take part in debates"
The prime minister's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that Putin would not be taking part in election debates.
"In order for presidential candidate Putin to take part in election debates he would be required, under electoral law, to take holiday leave," Peskov explained. "If he took holiday leave, Putin would not be able to fulfil his prime ministerial duties. And he has a tight schedule."
The spokesperson said that the television time allocated to candidate Putin would be made full use of by Putin's authorised representatives. The details are still being worked out. But Putin will be the one to make the decision. At this time it is not known who will be campaigning for Putin for the time allotted to him as a presidential candidate.
Larisa Kaftan
