Russian CEC slams Ashton’s statement on Yavlinsky

The Russian Central Electoral Committee's secretary has slammed European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton’s call on the country to review its decision to bar liberal opposition leader Grigory Yavlinsky from taking part in the upcoming presidential elections as "interference in Russia’s home affairs," RIA Novosti reports on Thursday

Yavlinsky, leader of the liberal Yabloko party and twice presidential candidate, was disqualified last week after officials judged that 25.6 percent of the 2 million signatures submitted as part of his application were invalid or fake.

“I call on the responsible authorities to review as a matter of urgency the decision not to register Grigory Yavlinsky,” Ashton said during the European Parliament’s debates on Russia in Brussels.

“In my view, this is disrespectful to Russia. This is pure interference in the country's domestic affairs and the actions of an independent body, Russia’s Central Electoral Committee,” CEC Secretary Nikolay Konkin said.