Russia's Supreme Court has upheld a ruling that bars liberal politician Boris Nadezhdin from running in the upcoming presidential election. Nadezhdin, a city council member in Dolgoprudny near Moscow, was nominated by the Civic Initiative party to run in an election where President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win.
Nadezhdin, known for his vocal opposition to the war in Ukraine, has garnered support among opposition-minded Russians. Despite his efforts, the Central Election Commission declared over 9,000 of the signatures submitted by Nadezhdin's campaign as invalid, surpassing the 5% threshold set by Russian election law.
As a result, Nadezhdin was disqualified from the race, despite securing 105,000 signatures after his campaign focused on halting Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The Civic Initiative party, which backs Nadezhdin, lacks representation in parliament, making the signature requirement a significant challenge.
In response to the ruling, Nadezhdin announced plans to appeal the decision, stating that they would file a complaint with the presidium of the Supreme Court. He expressed determination to pursue legal avenues within the framework of Russian law.
With Nadezhdin's disqualification, only four candidates have been approved to contest in the upcoming election scheduled for March 15-17, with President Putin being one of them. The other three candidates are affiliated with Kremlin-friendly parties represented in parliament, leading many to view them as token contenders.
