The article by Maria Michela D’Alessandro for euronews covers the events of Russia Day in Moscow, which coincided with anti-corruption demonstrations organized by opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Despite being a national holiday, the city was unusually quiet and heavily guarded by police and special forces. Navalny was detained before the protests could start, and the demonstrations were marked by a heavy police presence, with tactics such as 'kettling' used to control the crowd. The protests led to numerous arrests and a tense atmosphere, with the situation eventually calming down by late afternoon. The journalist provides a first-hand account of the events, capturing the mood and actions of both the protesters and the police.

Ksenia Sobchak, a journalist and public figure, has announced her candidacy for the Russian presidential election in 2018. During a press conference at Moscow's Stanislavsky Electrotheatre, she presented her political program and addressed criticisms of being a Kremlin puppet. Sobchak, who is the daughter of Saint Petersburg's first democratically elected mayor, emphasized her opposition to Vladimir Putin's long tenure and discussed key issues such as the Ukrainian situation and the annexation of Crimea. She expressed support for Aleksey Navalny and outlined her campaign strategy, which includes collecting 300,000 signatures to get on the ballot. Sobchak's campaign team includes Igor Malashenko, former president of NTV. She also spoke on foreign policy, advocating for stable and friendly relations with world powers, despite her personal views on leaders like Trump.

The article discusses the upcoming Russian presidential election in March 2018, highlighting the potential candidates and their chances. President Vladimir Putin has not confirmed his candidacy, but polls suggest he has a strong lead. Opposition leader Alexey Navalny is barred from running, and socialite Ksenia Sobchak's bid is seen by some as a Kremlin strategy to liven up the election. Other candidates include journalist Yekaterina Gordon, entrepreneur Rakhman Yansukov, and blogger Samson Sholademi. Established politicians like Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Grigory Yavlinsky, Maxim Suraikin, and Andrei Bogdanov also plan to run. Despite the growing list of candidates, experts believe none pose a real threat to Putin's expected victory.

In Russia, the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution is met with a mix of indifference and nostalgia among citizens. President Vladimir Putin, prioritizing stability ahead of upcoming presidential elections, has opted for no official celebrations, instead allowing cultural events, exhibitions, and debates. The Communist Party, led by Gennadij Andreevič Zjuganov, continues to hold gatherings and parades. Public opinion is divided on the revolution's legacy, with a majority considering it an inevitable historical event but opposing the idea of a new revolution.

Ksenia Sobchak, a television presenter and daughter of the former mayor of Saint Petersburg, has announced her candidacy for the Russian presidential elections in March 2018. She has chosen a team of experienced professionals, including Igor Malashenko, Vitaliy Shklyarov, and Elena Lukyanova, to support her campaign. Sobchak's platform includes discussing LGBT rights and the HIV crisis, with journalist Anton Krasovsky handling the latter. She has expressed solidarity with opposition leader Aleksey Navalny and made a bold statement that Crimea legally belongs to Ukraine, a stance that contradicts the Russian annexation of the region in 2014. Sobchak must gather 300,000 signatures to officially run and plans to open campaign offices across Russia.