Hundreds of supporters are backing the Kremlin bid of a jailed former commander of Russian-backed fighters in Ukraine.

More than 300 people gathered and rallied in a Moscow hotel where giant screens showed a picture of Igor Girkin.

Better known by his alias Igor Strelkov, Girkin was a key leader of separatist fighters in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The nationalist has strongly criticized Russia's military strategy in Ukraine for being "too kind."

He was detained in July on an extremism charge following a series of posts critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is expected to easily win re-election.

In August, despite still being in prison, Girkin announced on social media that he wanted to run for president in the March elections.

Among those present in the Moscow rally was Mihail Filippov, a 44-year-old long-bearded electrician, who had traveled from his home in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk.

He praised Girkin, saying he would "fully take on the function of supreme commander (of Russia) and would not let himself be hoodwinked."

Those gathered included many women, older people and military veterans. Girkin's supporters wore T-shirts and badges bearing his face and the slogan "Freedom for Strelkov!"

"There are currently many supporters of Strelkov on the front" in Ukraine, Yevgeny Skripnik, a soldier who fought alongside Girkin in the Donbass in 2014 against the Ukrainian army, said.

Supporters acknowledged Girkin had no chance of having his candidacy approved.

"The aim (of the campaign) is completely different," Mikhail Polynkov, one of the group's organizers, said. "On the eve of turmoil, comrades-in-arms need to unite."

WITH AFP