Russia defends ban on Navalny contest

Moscow, Dec. 26: The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected concerns that its decision to ban Opposition leader Alexei Navalny from running against President Vladimir Putin in a March election could undermine the vote’s legitimacy.

The European Union weighed in to the controversy meanwhile, warning that the ban cast “serious doubt” on the election. Russia’s Central Election Commission on Monday rejected Mr Navalny’s bid to take on Putin in the March presidential poll, citing a controversial embezzlement conviction.

The 41-year-old lawyer maintains that the case against him is politically motivated. He urged his supporters to stage a “vote strike” instead.

Mr Navalny is seen by many as the only Russian Opposition leader who stands a fighting chance of challenging Putin. Observers have expressed concern that barring Navalny from running would affect the legitimacy of the March poll and could affect voter turnout. “We cannot agree with this point of view,” Mr Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

He insisted that barring Navalny from running “can in no way affect the legitimacy of the election”.

EU external services spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said the ban on Navalny “casts a serious doubt on political pluralism in Russia and the prospect of democratic elections next year”, in a statement. — AFP