Moscow (CNN) Russian officials barred activist Alexey Navalny from entering the country's presidential race a day after he held nomination gatherings to kick off his run, according to state-run media outlet RIA-Novosti. Navalny will appeal the commission's decision, his campaign press secretary Ruslan Shaveddinov told CNN late Monday. Navalny would be running against incumbent President Vladimir Putin, who announced his intention to seek re-election -- his fourth presidential bid -- as an independent candidate at his annual press conference earlier this month. "Their dissatisfaction, although not very focused at this point, is a factor the Kremlin is worried about," she said. "The Kremlin is very focused on the youth and making sure that young people support Putin."

Source: CNN December 25, 2017 15:41 UTC