The 2018 Presidential Campaign

Navalny announced his intention to run for president in December 2016. From the beginning, the campaign was designed not simply as an election effort, but as a long-term nationwide political infrastructure. Regional headquarters were opened across Russia, volunteer networks were built, systems for collecting signatures were prepared, and the campaign platform was published. Navalny traveled extensively throughout the country, holding rallies, public meetings, and conversations with voters. The team also placed major emphasis on training election observers and building a durable network of supporters and local coordinators. In December 2017, Russia’s Central Election Commission refused to register Navalny as a candidate, citing his conviction in the Kirovles case. Earlier, however, the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that the conviction was unlawful, and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe had called on Russia to remedy the consequences of the case and ensure Navalny’s right to participate in elections. After being barred from the ballot, Navalny announced the “Voters’ Strike” — a nationwide campaign of protests and an organized boycott of the election. The 2018 presidential campaign did more than challenge Vladimir Putin politically. It created a federal network of headquarters, volunteers, organizers, and regional coordinators that later became the foundation for Navalny’s future political projects and movements.