Putin’s main rival told he cannot stand for election

ALEXEI NAVALNY, the Russian opposition leader, has been thwarted in his attempt to challenge Vladimir Putin in next year’s elections after he was ruled ineligible to stand.

The Central Election Commission refused to register Mr Navalny as a candidate, citing his criminal conviction in a controversial embezzlement case. Mr Navalny has dismissed the conviction as politically motivated.

Twelve out of 13 members of the commission voted against registering Mr Navalny’s candidacy, in a ruling that came just a day after he was endorsed by more than 15,000 people.

Mr Navalny, who was present at the vote, argued that his conviction was overturned by the European Court of Human Rights earlier this year.

He added that not allowing him to run would “exclude millions of people” from the election. “You’re sitting here, real people, pink-faced, well-fed. I understand the difficult position you’re in, but at least once in your life you should be able to do the right thing,” the politician was quoted as saying by the RBC news outlet.

Mr Navalny is widely seen as the only serious opposition to Mr Putin, who will become the longest-serving ruler of Russia since Joseph Stalin, should he serve a fourth term.

Ella Pamfilova, the chairman of the CEC, said there was nothing wrong with Mr Navalny’s application, but accused him of “fundraising illegally and brainwashing young people”.

Mr Navalny has urged his supporters to boycott the election.