Russia's Supreme Court turned down an appeal on Wednesday by Yabloko party leader Grigory Yavlinsky against the Central Election Commission's refusal last month to register him as a candidate in the presidential election in March.
Judge Nikolai Tolcheyev recognized as legal the election committee's refusal to accept Yavlinsky as a candidate due to a lack of the required number of verified signatures in support of his candidacy.
Yavlinsky wrote in his Twitter account that the court’s decision was predetermined.
“The Supreme Court’s decision was predetermined but it was important to undergo this procedure. We [Yabloko] are acting in line with the law. Millions of people are with us. Everything is just beginning,” he said.
Yabloko’s head, Sergei Mitrokhin said the party will not appeal the Supreme Court’s decision in The Hague, but will continue “political struggle.”
“We are set to continue the political struggle for a legal state. The Supreme Court’s decision is another sign that it [law] does not work in Russia,” Mitrokhin said, adding “it is necessary to peacefully change the political regime in the country.”
The Election Committee said it welcomed the court's decision and had expected it.
