Russia's Election Commission rejects Navalny's presidential bid

Moscow [Russia], December 25 (ANI): The Central Election Commission of Russia on Monday said it would not register Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny's initiative group for his self-nomination in the presidential election due to his unspent conviction.

"First of all, a citizen convicted to imprisonment for committing a grave or especially grave crime and has an unspent conviction for this crime on the voting day does not have a right to be elected as president," commission member Boris Ebzeyev said.

According to Sputnik, Navalny, who announced his intention to participate in upcoming presidential elections in Russia as an independent candidate, submitted the needed papers to the CEC on Sunday.

He has repeatedly announced plans to run for Russian president in 2018.

However, CEC Chair Ella Pamfilova said, "Navalny was ineligible to run because of a corruption conviction, and that he could join a presidential race only after 2028 in accordance with the Law on the election of the President of the Russian Federation." Nevertheless, she also noted that the CEC reviews documents of all applicants.

The presidential election will take place on March 18.

An independent candidate needs 500 votes to get registered with election authorities, according to the legalisation.

The 41-year-old lawyer has been deemed ineligible to run, due to a criminal conviction.

The authorities said that "only a miracle" would help him get registered. Navalny has described the conviction as politically motivated.

Navalny, who is a staunch Kremlin critic and anti-corruption campaigner, rose to prominence in Russian politics in 2008.

In addition to this, he was the driving force behind massive anti-Putin protests in 2011 and 2012. (ANI)