Putin inks law to ban ‘extremists’ from elections amid Navalny crackdown

AFP | Moscow

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday signed legislation that bars members of “extremist” organisations from running for office, a move allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny say aims to sideline them from the parliamentary election this year.

Putin’s approval of the law comes days before a court will consider outlawing Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation and regional campaign groups on the grounds they are extremist.

The law bars members or heads of groups declared extremist from running for seats in the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, or taking part in other elections for periods ranging from three to five years.

The legislation effectively derails campaigns for the parliament announced by some Navalny allies, including Lyubol Sobol, who is being prosecuted over a protest in support of the opposition politician. The signing by Putin coincides with Navalny’s 45th birthday, which is the marking behind bars as he serves a 2.5- year sentence for embezzlement charges that he says are trumped up.

Navalny’s team -- which says the extremism allegations are an attempt to blunt their political opposition at the parliamentary election in September -- said sarcastically that the law was “a special birthday greeting from the Kremlin”. In a post on his Instagram account, Navalny said he wasn’t bothered by having to celebrate his birthday in jail and that he would celebrate all his missed birthdays once he is released.