Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was officially nominated as a candidate for the March 2012 presidential elections at a congress of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party at Moscow's Luzhniki Arena on Sunday.
All 614 delegates from United Russia and Putin's All-Russia People's Front movement who took part in the vote supported Putin's candidacy.
"My entire life, without exaggeration, has been aimed at serving our Fatherland," Putin told his supporters after his nomination was announced. "Our motto is 'Never look back!' Thank you... We will win together."
The congress took place a week before parliamentary elections due on December 4.
The presidential election campaign officially started in Russia on Saturday, with the polls scheduled to take place on March 4, 2012.
In September, Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev announced their plans to swap jobs after the presidential elections. Medvedev, who will lead United Russia in parliamentary polls on December 4, is expected to become Russia's new prime minister after his presidential term expires.
