Kremlin critic decries doppelgangers at St Petersburg election

Boris Vishnevsky, the 65-year-old politician running for St Petersburg's Legislative Assembly, looks on during an interview with Reuters in Saint Petersburg, Russia September 7, 2021. REUTERS/Anton Vaganov

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Boris Vishnevsky, a veteran opposition politician, was gearing up to run in elections this month when he learned that two of his opponents would not only have the same name and surname as him, but even the same facial hair in their official portraits.

The 65-year-old seeking to renew his seat in St Petersburg's Legislative Assembly accuses authorities of fielding "spoiler" candidates to confuse his voters and reduce his vote haul.