Conspiracy halting Kasparov presidency bid, say supporters

Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov will not run for the Russian presidency because his supporters have been unable to rent a hall for a nomination gathering, his spokeswoman said today.

Russian law requires that independent candidates be nominated through a meeting of a so-called "initiative group".

Under election law, today is the last day that potential candidates for the March 2 vote have to hold such conferences.

Marina Litvinovich, a spokeswoman for the broad-based opposition coalition Other Russia that Kasparov heads, said organisers have been unable to find an auditorium or hall in Moscow where activists could gather and vote to put forth Kasparov as a candidate.

She accused the government of pressuring landlords to not rent to Other Russia.

"Authorities put up as many obstacles as possible to stop us. That's it," she said.

Since leaving chess, Kasparov has become a vociferous critic of President Vladimir Putin's government, cobbling together a disparate coalition of nationalists, left-wing activists and liberals to try to generate broad opposition.

Authorities have repeatedly stymied protest marches in major Russian cities, often violently breaking up demonstrations.

Kasparov was detained for five days last month after a protest in Moscow and supporters are regularly harassed by police in different regions.