Problems in our country haven't been caused by Donald Trump, America and its ambitions or CIA spies. Our problems are rooted in a bad government system, the lack of free elections, independent courts and freedom of speech.
Ksenia Sobchak
The only thing which is important to do is to tell about the values I share. It's to say how important liberalization of Russia is.
My burden is my past as a TV star. But, you know, pasts cannot be a life sentence.
My voters, my core audience, are young people in Russia, so I actually do what I need to have their support.
With men it's always like this in Russia - they always want to be the head of everything.
I'm a politician who's against corruption that Putin has done in our country.
According to international law, Crimea is Ukraine's. Period.
Any window of opportunity is important. If your hands are tied, you should swim with your legs. If your legs are tied, you should try to hold on to the edge of the boat with your teeth. We have to use every option.
In the end, believe me, there will be no friendship between Trump and Putin.
The machine of repression can only be started, it can't be stopped - even by Putin.
Russia is the biggest European nation. We are Europeans, we are not Asians.
Let's not make out as though I will be the winner. I won't be. Putin will run and he will win.
I do not purport to be a professional politician.
I'm going to take part in the elections, not just as a candidate but as a mouthpiece for those who can't become candidates.
In a system created by Putin, it is only possible for Putin to win. I am realistic about who will become the president.
I'm not for seizing power, I'm for justice in the country and for democratic elections.
I feel like I'm in a horror film. Everywhere I turn, there's a journalist.
My goal is to make it so that the situation which we see at every election - the same candidates, the same faces... to turn the situation around and completely change it.
I want to show a new vector of policy that will be there when I will become a president. And my vector is friendship with America and friendship with European Union.
With situations that you have no power over, there is no point in worrying about one thing or another. Why think about things that you can't control?
I see that I can do good, I can help free political prisoners, I can raise questions that are silenced on the national level, I can talk about Navalny and others on national television channels, and show that we have 20-30 million supporters around the country.
You can't just chant 'Putin, go away!' because it doesn't make any sense at this point. We need to chant: 'Putin, give back our votes!'
All Russian people know who I am. So I use this to the good because, you know, it's really hard to shut my mouth off because... I'm too bright, and I'm too many years visible to everyone.
No way Putin will let anyone take away his power. Even if all the people of Russia voted for me.
You know, in Russia we say there are three things you can't choose: your parents, your gender and your president.
I didn't go into politics because I'm a woman. I have done this because I have been interested in politics my whole life.
It's Russia. It's a patriarchal society. That's a fact you have to get used to. We have sexism. And it's widespread.
There's a view in Russian society that there are 'male professions' and 'female professions.' The women should be looking after the home and children. It makes me sad. But the only thing you can do is fight it.
That's the tragedy of our country. Everyone is an inexperienced politician.
Work hard and go your own path. You'll make enemies, lose friends, but you'll make even better ones on the way.
Putin has all the power under his control, all the security forces, all the billions of dollars he needs. It's mad to pretend otherwise.
I am one of the most famous people in Russia, which is maybe not modest, but it's true.
I'm like the Russian Tyra Banks.
My dream was to do political journalism.
I am who I am. Why should I hide because someone might say, 'How can she really care when she wears Chanel?' Actually, yes, I can care about justice even in Chanel heels.
I think it is my big advantage that I know Putin personally... that he can trust me, that he can see in me a new generation. I want to be a person who really makes him see how many people are against the system.
I want my government to be transparent.
Russian people are not stupid. They know that the system we are living in is undemocratic.
Any president we choose becomes a czar in Russia. I don't want czars anymore. I don't want to be a czar myself. I want to be a democratic leader.
Even if we imagine I'm a Kremlin project, then I'm a good Kremlin project because I'm saying out things that have not been said before.
I'm a journalist and, before, a next TV star.
Many people voted for Trump just to say, you know, their 'no' to the system.
I've been famous for years through my entertainment programs, through my show business activities and my business.
I mean, I'm a political figure in Russia for more than 10 years... This is how people in Russia know me.
I'm the kind of person whom you like or hate, you never stay neutral.
I don't want revolution in my country. The only way to change Russia without blood is evolution.
What I do is good for Russian opposition. What I do is I speak freely on the things and items that were never discussed loudly with Russian public for years.
I don't need anyone's approval for going to elections.
Because I really believe that Russia needs a fresh face, a new generation, to be seen on the political stage.
I think I can really make people go and vote against the system - voting for Ksenia Sobchak.
