OREANDA-NEWS  The Kremlin does not consider the politician Boris Nadezhdin, who has put forward his candidacy for the presidential election of the Russian Federation, "as a rival," said Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the head of the Russian state.

Peskov was asked by journalists during a conversation with him on Wednesday about how serious Boris Nadezhdin is considered in the Kremlin as a rival to Putin and whether they "see a threat" in his intention to run for election.

"Not at all. We do not consider him as a rival," Peskov said.

Peskov was asked to comment on reports that Nadezhdin is allegedly "a candidate coordinated with the Kremlin."

"I can't (comment) in any way. There are powers of the CEC. It is necessary to apply there for clarification. And there is a constitutional right for any Russian citizen who meets certain criteria to run for president. And it absolutely does not need to be coordinated with anyone, there is a certain algorithm of actions that need to be performed," Peskov replied.