Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny cleared the first hurdle Sunday toward taking part in next year's presidential election, even though the Central Election Commission has previously ruled him ineligible to run.
Navalny, 41, is a fierce opponent of President Vladimir Putin, who is widely expected to win re-election in March, extending his 17 years in power.
On Sunday Navalny, a veteran campaigner against corruption among Russia's elite, won the initial support of 742 people at a gathering in a district of Moscow, above the minimum 500 required to initiate a presidential bid.