Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accepted on Sunday his nomination by the ruling United Russia party as its candidate in next year’s presidential election.
“I accept this nomination with gratitude,” Putin said at the United Party congress in the Luzhniki sports arena.
The presidential election campaign officially started in Russia on Saturday, with the polls scheduled to take place on March 4, 2012.
In mid-October, Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev announced their plans to swap jobs after the presidential elections. Medvedev, who will lead United Russia in parliamentary polls on December 4, is expected to become Russia’s new prime minister after his presidential term expires.