_1514226491_1514231916.jpg "Russia's Alexei Navalny barred from presidential run")
Directly after Monday's decision, Navalny called for a boycott of the March elections.
"We are declaring a strike by voters. We will ask everyone to boycott these elections. We will not recognise the result," he said.
In a pre-recorded message, released shortly after the election committee made its ruling public, Navalny, 41, also criticised current president Vladimir Putin.
"Only Putin and the candidates he has handpicked are taking part in it."
"Going to the polls right now is to vote for lies and corruption", Navalny said in the recording.
Vladimir Putin, who has been in power since 1999, announced earlier this month he intends to run for another six-year term.
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