Russia’s upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, has officially scheduled the country’s next presidential election for March 17, 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to officially declare his candidacy soon. For days now, state television has been showing programmes in which citizens swear allegiance to the 71-year-old Kremlin leader and pledge to vote for him in his fifth candidacy. Putin had the constitution changed specifically so that he could run again. If he is re-elected, he could remain in office until 2030 and run again in 2036. Polling stations are to be open…