Opposition candidate Alexei Navalny nominated for Russian presidency

ohcontrarian (25)in #news • 6 years ago (edited)

Prominent whistle-blower and politician Alexei Navalny was officially nominated by a group of supporters. They voted inside of a tent in the Silver Forest outside of Moscow.

Navalny received 742 votes, well above the 500 votes needed for a majority.

“Vladimir Putin, you should not be president anymore... You are a bad president. You have no positive platform. We are sending you a message in these elections and are ready to win.”

Navalny has been consistently outspoken against Putin and other high-ranking officials in the Russian government.

In the past Navalny has been arrested numerous times over the years. In 2012 he was convicted of embezzlement and sentenced to five years of hard labor. Though he was released from jail a day later, he was later charged again and received a second suspended sentence of three and a half years. Politicians loyal to Putin have hinted that these convictions may hinder his ability to put his candidacy on the ballot.

Supporters expect push-back from authorities:

"I understand the danger. But I got prepared. I told my parents, they expect me to call and say everything is OK."

said Svetlana Sorokina, a supporter who attended the meeting. Demonstrators have been subject to arbitrary arrest and violence from groups of counter-demonstrators loyal to Putin.

Sources:

#russia #politics