Ksenia Sobchak as president is like Sergei Shnurov as an artist. It's satire. It's a very high-level art project.

My participation in the presidential elections can truly be a step on the path towards the transformation that our country needs so much.

Well, like in Orwell books, whom I cherish very much as an author, in classical totalitarian regimes, you always have to make people hate someone. And this hatred is all around the Russian politics.

Well, first of all, I think that Russia has to have free democratic elections, that means everyone who wants to take part in it should be admitted.

I have no political weight, and I haven't earned the right to launch some kind of political programme or stand as a candidate.

My goal is to bring the issues that were never brought up on federal TV, such as LGBT rights, which are a shock for many people because they really think that those people should go to prison, they shouldn't have any rights. And moreover, there is lots of people who share the idea that they should be punished for being LGBT, just for the fact.

Well, Trump is certainly not my hero. I'm sorry to say that, but that's true.

The mission is to demonstrate that Russia is not Putin, that we're ready for cooperation, and that there are a lot of people in Russia who want the U.S.-Russia relations to be improved and that we don't view the United States as our enemy.

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.'

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.

Vladimir Putin is a person from a different generation.

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.

I wanted to become a star, of course. That was very important to me. I wanted to achieve something.

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.

Yes, I love good clothes, good shoes, but I earned it.

Revolutions in Russia are even worse than bad czars.

Of course I want to be president, I want to win, but I also want to be sincere.

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.

I understood that I am a lot bigger than what I do, that I have a bigger potential.

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.

We must try to influence the government, not fight to take power.

I don't have to justify myself. I work a lot and I earn a lot.

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.

I'm against bureaucratization, corruption, seeing the same people in power.

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 very important to me that I be my own person. That's why I chose show business.

I am not afraid of Putin, so I go and challenge him on the elections.

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.

I'm really a self-made businesswoman.

I could never have any corruption from the state because I never had any business with the state.

I wish I were a man. It would make my life easier in this sexist society.

I intend to be a candidate for those who want to vote against everyone.

When I was 18 and was studying in university, Vladimir Putin became president of Russia.

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 am used to people underestimating me.

I don't trust a system where Putin makes all decisions.

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.

You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.

I know how to be loud.

I don't want people to vote personally for me. I want them to vote against the system.

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 don't want to take power. I want to break the wall of this autocratic regime.

Many people would vote for me, I'm quite sure.

Stalin is a shameful stain on our country's history.

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.