Asia

Putin Signs Law Banning 'Extremist' Groups From Elections

A Russian court is expected to rule on whether the groups of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny are given this classification.

Putin Signs Law Banning 'Extremist' Groups From Elections
Dmitri Lovetsky / AP
SMS

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed an new law that could deal a major blow to his opposition. 

It prohibits people deemed "extremist" from seeking office for between three and five years.

A Russian court is expected to rule on whether the groups of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny are given this classification.

Putin, who signed the law on Nalvany's birthday, is accused of being behind the critic's poisoning last August.