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Boris Nadezhdin, the only openly anti-war Russian presidential candidate, filed two lawsuits in the Russian Supreme Court challenging the Russian Central Election Commission's (CEC) refusal to register him as a candidate as the Kremlin continues efforts to suppress popular opposition while trying to preserve the veneer of legitimacy of Russian presidential elections. Nadezhdin filed lawsuits with the Supreme Court challenging the technicalities the CEC used to deny his registration in the presidential election.[9] Nadezhdin stated that he will likely file a third lawsuit against the CEC before February 16.[10] ISW previously assessed that the Kremlin may have reversed its decision to allow Nadezhdin to run after Nadezhdin demonstrated that he might win too many votes for the Kremlin to credibly portray Putin as winning the election by the Kremlin-desired margin, and by extension frame Putin's reelection as an overwhelming referendum on his war effort.[11]

The CEC is unlikely to reverse its decision. The Russian Ministry of Justice included the Russian Election Monitor, a European non-governmental organization (NGO) that publishes expert analyses on Russian elections and observations from independent civilian election observers in Russia, on the list of “undesirable” NGOs in Russia.[12] Chairperson of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption Vasily Piskarev justified the “undesirable” designation, claiming that a group of unnamed Polish, French, and German “Russophobe” politicians formed the Russian Election Monitor to “prepare foreign audiences to recognize the presidential elections in Russia as illegitimate.”[13]

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-12-2024

Boris Nadezhdin:

On February 15, open hearings will be held to consider my claims in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court accepted both claims we filed for its proceedings and set dates for court hearings.

The first claim - challenging the form of the list of collectors for excessive requirements according to the region - will be considered on February 15 at 10:00 (case No. AKPI24-116, judge Nefedov).

The second claim - to challenge the form of the statement of verification of signature sheets for the absence of the conclusions of a handwriting expert - will be considered on February 15 at 14:00 (case No. AKPI24-117, judge Kirillov).

Court hearings are open. Media editorial offices can receive one-time accreditation to participate in meetings. It will be possible to be present in the court building without it.

The third lawsuit, to challenge the refusal to register, is scheduled to be filed by the end of this week.

https://t.me/BorisNadezhdin/914