[JURIST] The Russian Supreme Court [official website, in Russian] Friday rejected for the second time an appeal by former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov [personal website, in Russian; BBC profile] to reinstate his candidacy in the Russian presidential election to be held next month. The court previously rejected [JURIST report] an appeal by Kasyanov last week after a one-day hearing.

In January, the Russian Central Election Commission disqualified Kasyanov from running in the election [JURIST report], rejecting 13.36 percent of signatures he submitted in support of his candidacy as either forged [JURIST report] or incorrect. Under Russian law, no more than 5 percent of signatures in support of a candidate can be disqualified if that candidate is to run in the election. RIA Novosti has more.