Putin’s main opponent barred from 2018 poll

Vladimir Putin’s biggest political opponent, Alexei Navalny, has been formally blocked from running against the Russian president in next year’s presidential election.

Russia’s central election commission said he had been ruled out because he was subject to a suspended prison sentence.

The decision comes after the Russian opposition leader’s supporters turned out in their thousands across the country to endorse him.

Mr Navalny, who claims the corruption conviction against him is politically motivated, has said he plans to appeal the decision.

He also called on his supporters to boycott the election. He said: “We announce a boycott of the election. The process in which we are called to participate is not a real election. It will feature only Putin and the candidates he has personally selected.”

State polls show Mr Putin is set to be re-elected, which would see him keep office for another six years.