Russian police raid Navalny's campaign HQ

Russian police on Thursday raided the campaign headquarters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Saint Petersburg, according to video streamed live on social media platform Periscope.

On Twitter, the Saint Petersburg campaign office said police "chucked out everyone except the coordinator (and) seized equipment, turned off our security cameras and covered the windows … so we cannot film."

Denis Mikhailov, Navalny's campaign coordinator for Saint Petersburg, told AFP news agency that police claimed the Saint Petersburg campaign was in possession of illicit leaflets, an allegation he firmly denied.

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"They are seizing computers, laptops and printed materials. They said they received a signal that we are distributing some dissident leaflets and that's the reason for the seizure," said Mikhailov.

'Afraid of boycott'

Russian authorities have increased pressure on them to end calls for a boycott of the presidential election slated for March, which incumbent President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win.

"In the last two days, there have been searches in 11 offices, they are taking away equipment and leaflets supposedly calling for a boycott," Ruslan Shavedinnov, Navalny's campaign press secretary, told AFP.

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Navalny is technically barred from running for president due to criminal convictions for fraud, which have been viewed as political retribution for his anti-corruption campaigns targeted at high-level graft. Earlier this month, Russia's Supreme Court reaffirmed the ban on Navalny.

However, in the wake of the raid, Navalny renewed his call for a boycott, saying authorities "are afraid of a boycott by voters. That means it's the right thing to do. Join us."

ls/kms (Reuters, AFP)