The Communist Party of Russia selects 75-year-old Kharitonov for the 2023 presidential polls.
Kharitonov secured nearly 14% of the vote in the 2004 presidential race against Vladimir Putin.
Party members, in a single-candidate vote, overwhelmingly support Kharitonov's candidacy at the congress.
The Communist Party, led by Zyuganov since 1993, maintains its position as the second-largest party in parliament.
Despite being on paper in opposition, the Communist Party practically aligns with Putin's United Russia.
Putin's victory in the upcoming polls could extend his presidency until 2030, consolidating his power further.
Kharitonov, a martial arts enthusiast, served as a collective farm manager in Siberia during the Soviet era.