Delegates from Russia鈥檚 ruling party unanimously backed 鈥檚 bid for reelection at a party conference in Moscow on Sunday, state agencies reported, just a day after the to run in the as an independent.

A little-known Russian presidential hopeful also inched closer towards formally registering as a candidate, securing a nomination from a group of more than 500 supporters in the Russian capital.

Dmitry Medvedev, United Russia鈥檚 chairman and a former Russian president and prime minister, called on fellow party members to 鈥渕obilize all activists and supporters鈥� in support of Putin before the vote, scheduled for March 15-17, according to reports by Russian state agencies.

In a speech at the conference, Medvedev referred to Putin as 鈥渙ur candidate,鈥� and asserted that his reelection for a fifth term as head of state 鈥渟hould be absolutely logical, legitimate and absolutely indisputable.鈥�

鈥淲e must mobilize all activists, all supporters in order to prevent any disruptions during the election campaign, stop any attempts to influence the course of the campaign from the outside, arrange provocations, disseminate false, harmful information or violate public order,鈥� Medvedev said.

Analysts have described Putin鈥檚 reelection as all but assured, given the tight control he has established over Russia鈥檚 political system during his 24 years in power. Prominent critics who could challenge him on the ballot are either in jail or living abroad, and most independent media have been banned within Russia.

On Saturday, a group including top officials from the United Russia party, prominent Russian actors, singers, athletes and other public figures formally nominated Putin to run as an independent.

The nomination by a group of at least 500 supporters is mandatory under Russian election law for those not running on a party ticket. Independent candidates also need to gather signatures from at least 300,000 supporters in 40 or more Russian regions.

Hours before United Russia delegates announced their endorsement of Putin on Sunday, a former journalist and mom-of-three from a small town in western Russia cleared the initial hurdle, according to Telegram updates by Sota, a Russian news publication covering the opposition, protests and human rights issues. Yekaterina Duntsova鈥檚 candidacy was formally backed by a group of 521 supporters at a meeting in Moscow, Sota reported.

A former local legislator who calls for peace in Ukraine and the release of imprisoned Kremlin critics, Duntsova following the launch of her bid for the presidency, and fears that Russian authorities might break up the supporters鈥� meeting set to advance it.

According to Sota, electricity briefly went out at the venue where Duntsova鈥檚 supporters were gathered, but the meeting was otherwise unimpeded.

The Kremlin leader has used different election tactics over the years. He ran as an independent in 2018 and his campaign gathered signatures. In 2012, he ran as a United Russia nominee instead.

At least one party 鈥� A Just Russia, which has 27 seats in the 450-seat State Duma 鈥� was willing to nominate Putin as its candidate this year. But its leader, Sergei Mironov, was quoted by the state news agency RIA Novosti on Saturday as saying that Putin will be running as an independent and will be gathering signatures.

Under constitutional reforms he orchestrated, the 71-year-old Putin is eligible to seek two more six-year terms after his current term expires next year, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036.

The Associated Press