Russia’s Election Commission has barred antiwar Putin challenger Boris Nadezhdin from running in next month’s presidential election. Authorities claimed around 15% of the signatures he collected for his candidate application were invalid, putting him below the threshold for qualification. Although President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win the election, Nadezhdin has emerged as the opposition’s best shot. He’s vowed to challenge his disqualification all the way to Russia’s Supreme Court.

Boris Nadezhdin: “You can take me off the elections — OK, you can — but what will they do with the millions waiting for changes, who disagree with the course the country is going? That’s the problem. These people are not going anywhere. … I will continue working further. We will be moving candidates for elections. We will be organizing a widespread movement.”