'Kremlin blocked Kasparov from running for president'

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Kremlin critic and former world chess champion Garry Kasparov will not run in Russia's presidential elections after authorities repeatedly blocked supporters' efforts to hold a nominating conference, his spokeswoman said Thursday. Under election law, Thursday is the last day that potential candidates for the March 2 vote have to hold such conferences. Marina Litvinovich, a spokeswoman for the broad-based opposition coalition Other Russia that Kasparov heads, told The Associated Press that organizers have been unable to find an auditorium or hall in Moscow where activists could gather and vote to put forth Kasparov as a candidate. She accused the government of pressuring landlords to not rent to Other Russia.