On Monday, Russian election officials formally barred anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny from running for president in the March 18 election. Over the past year, Navalny has launched a grassroots campaign to challenge the current president, Vladimir Putin. Navalny is the most serious opponent that Putin has ever faced. Minutes after the Central Election Commission announced its decision, Navalny released a pre-recorded video message. The message called on his supporters to boycott the vote. The procedure that we’re invited to take part in is not an election, Navalny said. Only Putin and the candidates he has hand-picked are taking part in it. He added: Going to the polls right now is to vote for lies and corruption. With or without Navalny in the race, Putin has been expected to win a fourth term easily. His approval ratings are more than 80 percent.