Russian officials move to shutter opposition leader’s foundation

15 January 2018, 9:02 pm

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MOSCOW — Russia’s Justice Ministry says it has filed a lawsuit to shut down a company used by opposition leader Alexei Navalny to fund his political campaigning.

The Justice Ministry says Monday that it has asked a Moscow court to close the Fifth Season of the Year foundation, which rents premises for Navalny’s headquarters and employs campaign workers, over unspecified violations.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny enters the headquarters of the Central Election Commission in Moscow on December 25, 2017. (AFP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)

Navalny has unofficially campaigned for the presidency, despite an implicit ban on his candidacy due to a fraud conviction seen by many as politically driven. Election officials last month formally barred him from the March 18 vote, which President Vladimir Putin is set to easily win.

Navalny has urged a boycott of the election, and tweeted Monday that the ministry’s move reflects authorities’ fear of the “voters’ strike.”

— AP