Putin files for presidential bid

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin submitted documents on Wednesday to be officially registered as a candidate in the March 2012 presidential elections, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.In line with Russian law, the Central Election Commission is to consider Putin’s bid within 10 days.Putin, 59, who served two terms as president in 2000-2008, announced his plans to return to the Kremlin in late September and is widely expected to win the elections slated for March 4, 2012. The current Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, has agreed to replace Putin as prime minister in the next government. The pro-Kremlin United Russia party nominated Putin as its candidate for president during a party congress in late November. He is expected to become the first candidate to be officially registered for the polls.At least four candidates are expected to challenge Putin’s bid for the presidency. Among them are Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the leader of the nationalist LDPR party, and veteran Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov. They are expected be officially nominated on December 13 and 17, respectively.The center-left A Just Russia party also intends to put forward its leader Sergei Mironov as a candidate for the presidency. His nomination is likely to be approved by a party congress due on December 10.