If people don't like me, I insist they can vote for someone else. The only stupid thing we can do is to stay at home. I don't know a single election in the world that was changed by staying at home.
— Ksenia Sobchak
Many people would vote for me, I'm quite sure.
I don't want people to vote personally for me. I want them to vote against the system.
You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.
I am used to people underestimating me.
When I was 18 and was studying in university, Vladimir Putin became president of Russia.
I could never have any corruption from the state because I never had any business with the state.
I am not afraid of Putin, so I go and challenge him on the elections.
You can't just chant 'Putin, go away!' because it doesn't make any sense at this point. We need to chant: 'Putin, give back our votes!'
According to international law, Crimea is Ukraine's. Period.
The machine of repression can only be started, it can't be stopped - even by Putin.
Problems in our country haven't been caused by Donald Trump, America and its ambitions or CIA spies. Our problems are rooted in a bad government system, the lack of free elections, independent courts and freedom of speech.
I understood that I am a lot bigger than what I do, that I have a bigger potential.
Of course I want to be president, I want to win, but I also want to be sincere.
With situations that you have no power over, there is no point in worrying about one thing or another. Why think about things that you can't control?
Why was I going around in rhinestones before, and am now wearing a plaid shirt and glasses? It's not a question of fashion. It's a question of time and yourself. The country changed, I grew up, life changed. It's normal.
People can't go into the street endlessly. My friends get asked why aren't they going to the next protest? They answer, 'Because we're tired of being thousands. I'm ready to become the 100,000th person at a rally, but I don't want to be the 10,000th. Because it's pointless.'
Stalin is a shameful stain on our country's history.
I don't want to take power. I want to break the wall of this autocratic regime.
No way Putin will let anyone take away his power. Even if all the people of Russia voted for me.
Of course for some Putin is a tyrant and dictator. Others consider him Russia's savior. But I'm in a difficult position. Putin helped my father - and practically saved his life.
I have a certain tradition here at the GQ awards. Every year I pick the best-looking man and bestow upon him my kiss.
I intend to be a candidate for those who want to vote against everyone.
I'm really a self-made businesswoman.
It was very important to me that I be my own person. That's why I chose show business.
I'm against bureaucratization, corruption, seeing the same people in power.
I do not purport to be a professional politician.
I don't have to justify myself. I work a lot and I earn a lot.
I'm not for seizing power, I'm for justice in the country and for democratic elections.
I think in political life you can only know your position and stay in place, even though people always try to push you to one side.
Revolutions in Russia are even worse than bad czars.
To present me as the main face of the opposition movement is completely incorrect. I'm not a person who is 'against Putin.' I'm just a person who is standing up for a fair society, for free elections.
Vladimir Putin is a person from a different generation.
Let's not make out as though I will be the winner. I won't be. Putin will run and he will win.
I see that I can do good, I can help free political prisoners, I can raise questions that are silenced on the national level, I can talk about Navalny and others on national television channels, and show that we have 20-30 million supporters around the country.
The people are really afraid of what's going on in Russia; they are suffering with fear, sitting at home, doors locked, because they are afraid of their government.
I know how to be loud.
I don't trust a system where Putin makes all decisions.
I'm going to take part in the elections, not just as a candidate but as a mouthpiece for those who can't become candidates.
I wish I were a man. It would make my life easier in this sexist society.
I am always getting messages that I am paid by America, that I work for America, that I am connected with CIA... blah blah blah. I am not working for America, I am working for my country's good, but America is not an enemy for me.
Before I turned 30, I worked to create Ksenia Sobchak. Ksenia Sobchak turned out to be appalling and terrible in some respects, but nice in others.
It was a conscious choice, to build my own career, to make a name for myself. Another issue here, of course, is that I used all means to build it and was ready to pay any price for it.
My goal is to make it so that the situation which we see at every election - the same candidates, the same faces... to turn the situation around and completely change it.
We must try to influence the government, not fight to take power.
I'm very drawn to the story of Carla Bruni. Why is everyone talking about her? Specifically because everyone sees the first lady, but they know she was somewhere, topless, and had some Hollywood lover. There is some contrast in this person. I have these contrasts.
In a system created by Putin, it is only possible for Putin to win. I am realistic about who will become the president.
Yes, I love good clothes, good shoes, but I earned it.
I wanted to become a star, of course. That was very important to me. I wanted to achieve something.
I have my mother. I love her very much, but on many issues, we will never find a common language, because she simply doesn't understand many things.
