Russia announced that Alexei Navalny is barred from challenging President Vladimir Putin

Russia’s electoral body has announced that Alexei Navalny, the o pposition leader, is barred from challenging President Vladimir Putin in next year’s elections. In a statement released on Friday, the Central Electoral Commission said Navalny is “not eligible to stand for office” because he is currently serving a five-year suspended sentence for embezzlement. The body said…