Russia: Putin will seek new six-year term in 2018 elections

Russian president Vladimir Putin announced his intention to run in the 2018 presidential elections at an event in Nizhny Novgorod on Wednesday.

The incumbent president was speaking to workers from the massive GAZ car factory in the Volga region.

Putin had been widely expected to put forward his candidacy for next year’s elections. He enjoys a healthy lead in opinion polls.

Putin was first elected to the post of president in March 2000. Four years later he was re-elected. From 2008 to 2012 he was prime minister and in 2012 he once again assumed the Presidency.