On Wednesday, Russia's Supreme Court turned down an appeal by liberal politician and Yabloko party former leader Grigory Yavlinsky against the Central Election Commission's refusal last month to register him as a candidate in the presidential election in March.

       Thereby, the Central Election Commission's decision is recognized lawful. Grigory Yavlinsky was removed from taking part in the presidential elections due to a lack of the required number of verified signatures in support of his candidacy. Yabloko party was to collect two million signatures, but the results of checking showed 25.66 percent of them to be invalid.

      The Election Committee said it welcomed the court's decision and had expected it.

       Yabloko’s head, Sergei Mitrokhin said the party would not appeal the Supreme Court’s decision in The Hague, but would continue “political struggle.”

      Yavlinsky himself said he and his political supporters always acted in line with the law, even it was not fair enough. He also added they would continue their political struggle for a legal state.

      Many foreign countries expressed their discontent due to Yavlinsky's removal from the elections. Members of the European Union and the USA called for reconsideration of the Central Election Commission's decision, but Russian officials considered that as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of Russia. Foreign Ministry's representative recommended the European Union to be busy with its own problems.  

Sources: RIA Novosti Lenta.ru Image: Lenta.ru