Putin’s Liberal Opponents

DMITRY GUDKOV

Gudkov, 36, is currently the sole liberal opposition lawmaker in the Duma and has been called “Putin’s nemesis.” He’s running for re-election after his pro-Kremlin party expelled him for backing the 2011 protests.

MARIA BARONOVA

The activist, 32, is an independent candidate for a Moscow seat. She is one of 18 candidates supported by Open Russia, a reform movement launched by exiled tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

BULAT BARANTAYEV

One of the first openly gay men to run for a seat in modern Russian history, the 33-year-old doesn’t expect a win but hopes the campaign will inspire the LGBT community to stand up to bigotry. He also wants Putin jailed.