MOSCOW — Russia’s highest court on Saturday upheld a decision barring opposition leader Alexei Navalny from running for president in March. President Vladimir Putin, whose approval ratings top 80 per cent, is expected to easily win a fourth term in the March 18 election. Navalny has campaigned for the presidency all year despite an implicit ban on his candidacy due to a fraud conviction seen by many as politically driven. “It’s obvious that this decision is political,” said Ivan Zhdanov, who represented Navalny in court. While Sobchak has denied colluding with the Kremlin, her participation could draw some Navalny supporters to back her and help improve turnout.

Source: National Post December 30, 2017 11:37 UTC