Press release, 28.01.2018

Grigory Yavlinsky’s campaign headquarters has begun packing signature lists in favour of Yavlinsky’s nomination to the post of President. On 30 January, the signatures will be transferred to the Central Election Commission. On 29 January, Yavlinsky will personally participate in packing and will call some signature collectors, whose work was most efficient, and thank them in person.

By 31 January, Yavlinsky must transfer to the Central Election Commission from 100,000 to 105,000 voters’ signatures in favour of his nomination, whereas only 2,500 signatures per region is allowed. Yavlinsky’s campaign headquarters managed to collect over 180,000 signatures in 79 regions of Russia within a month. The signature lists were carefully checked by experts of the headquarters.

After the signatures  are transferred to the Central Election Commission, the Commission will select 20 per cent of signatures for checking purposes. The Commission will have 10 days to check the signatures. If the number of spoiled signatures does not exceed 5 per cent, a candidate will be registered. The election will take place on 18 March, 2018.

Yabloko nominated its presidential candidate in 1996, 2000 and 2012. In 1996 Grigory Yavlinsky represented a democratic alternative to Boris Yeltsin’s policy. In 2000 he was the only democrat who ran against Vladimir Putin and gained 18.6 per cent in Moscow with the voters turnout of 67.1 per cent. Yavlinsky was not registered as a presidential candidate in 2012 on political grounds. In 2004 Yabloko did not nominate its candidate but supported the candidacy of human rights advocate Vladimir Bukovsky. However, he was not registered as a candidate.