Nationalist candidate withdraws from Russian presidential race, endorses Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with candidates who participated in the last presidential election, Ksenia Sobchak and Sergei Baburin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia March 19, 2018. Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Sergei Baburin, a Russian nationalist politician who had announced his candidacy in presidential elections scheduled for March 15-17, said on Tuesday that he was pulling out of the race and endorsing the incumbent, Vladimir Putin.

Baburin, leader of the Russian All-People's Union party, announced his change of heart shortly after submitting documents and signatures to the central electoral commission in support of his bid.