MOSCOW, Dec  24, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Hundreds of supporters of Igor Girkin, a

jailed former commander of Russian-backed fighters in Ukraine, rallied in
Moscow Sunday to back his bid to stand for president.

Better known by his alias Igor Strelkov, Girkin was a key leader of
separatist fighters in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern
Ukraine in 2014. The nationalist has strongly criticised Russia's military
strategy in Ukraine for being "too kind".

He was detained in July on an extremism charge following a series of posts
critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is expected to easily win
re-election.

In August, despite still being in prison, Girkin announced on social media
that he wanted to run for president in the March elections.

More than 300 supporters gathered in a Moscow hotel where giant screens
showed a picture of Girkin.

Among those present was Mihail Filippov, a 44-year-old long-bearded
electrician, who had travelled from his home in the Siberian city of
Novosibirsk.

He praised Girkin, saying he would "fully take on the function of supreme
commander (of Russia) and would not let himself be hoodwinked".

Those gathered included many women, older people and military veterans.
Girkin's supporters wore T-shirts and badges bearing his face and the slogan
"Freedom for Strelkov!"

"There are currently many supporters of Strelkov on the front" in Ukraine,
said Yevgeny Skripnik, a soldier who fought alongside Girkin in the Donbass in
2014 against the Ukrainian army.

Supporters acknowledged Girkin had no chance of having his candidacy
approved.

"The aim (of the campaign) is completely different," said Mikhail Polynkov
who is one of the group's organisers. "On the eve of turmoil, comrades-in-arms
need to unite."