Russian media reports that about nine thousand of the signatures collected by Boris Nadezhdin were declared invalid by the election commission. The opposition candidate had submitted around 105,000 signatures, and at least 100,000 had to be valid. – I do not agree with the decision of the electoral commission, says Nadezjdin on his own website. He claims that he has collected more than 200,000 signatures across Russia. The 60-year-old emphasizes that the collection has taken place completely openly, and that people have stood in line to show that they support him. DOESN’T GIVE UP: Boris Nadezhdin speaks to the election commission in Moscow today. Photo: AFP – Taking part in the presidential election has been the most important political decision in my life, says Nadezhdin. He adds that he will not give up yet and that he will appeal the decision to the Russian Supreme Court. – You are not only rejecting me, but tens of millions of people who hope for change, says the opposition candidate. Surprising candidate Nadezhdin has distinguished himself as an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin and demands, among other things, that Russia stop the war in Ukraine. He has previously said that it was a “fatal mistake” for Putin to attack the neighboring country. POPULAR: Many Russians lined up to put their name on Nadezhdin’s lists. Photo: AP The 60-year-old also wants to improve Russia’s relationship with the West and has given his support to gays in Russia. Nadezjdin is running as a candidate for the small party Borgerinitiativet. Since the party is not represented in the Russian parliament, the Duma, the 60-year-old needed 100,000 signatures nationally and 2,500 in a number of the regions. In recent weeks, many Russians in several cities have stood in long queues to give their support to the 60-year-old. Analysts say that while he is unlikely to beat Putin, the queues to support Nadezhdin have been a rare sign of protest and optimism in Russia. Kremlin refers to rules President Putin’s spokesperson says that all rules have been followed in the election commission’s decision to stop Nadezhdin from running for office. Dmitry Peskov claims that there were errors in the signatures submitted by the opposition candidate. DISAPPOINTED: Boris Nadezhdin arrived today at the Central Electoral Commission’s premises in Moscow where he learned that he will not be allowed to stand in the presidential election. Photo: AFP Nadezhdin asked for three extra days to prove that the errors were insignificant, but he was only given one day. The 60-year-old says he will appeal the election commission’s decision in the Russian legal system. Earlier, Putin’s spokesperson said that the leaders of the country “did not see Nadezhdin as a competitor”. In Russia, there has been a discussion about whether Nadezhdin was chosen by the leaders in the Kremlin to give the presidential election in March an illusion of competition and democracy. But now that he has refused to participate, many Russians will probably think that he is an independent opposition politician, as he has claimed all along.
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