Press release, 16.01.2018

Grigory Yavlinsky’s campaign headquarters in the Omsk Region collected the maximum number of signatures – 2,500 – that are required to register Yavlinsky as a candidate in the presidential race. By 31 January, Yavlinsky must transfer to the Central Electoral Commission at least 105,000 voters’ signatures in favour of his nomination, whereas only 2,500 signatures per region is allowed.

According to Chair of the Omsk branch of Yabloko Tatiana Nagibina, the regional headquarters managed to collect more signatures than required – 3,500. The signature lists were already sent to the central headquarters for checking purposes.

As of today, Yavlinsky’s headquarters collected over 95,700 signatures out of 105,000. The signature collection has been taking place in 79 regions of Russia since 26 December.

By 31 January, the signatures must transfered to the Central Electoral Commission. Then the Central Electoral 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. They 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.