Members of the Other Russia coalition, which Kasparov leads, say they had been unable to rent a Moscow auditorium, which they needed for a legally required vote to endorse the presidential bid.
Judging by the response organizers were getting from venue owners, authorities had been instructed to stop his group from meeting, Kasparov said.
Under the law, independent candidates can run for president only if an initiative group of at least 500 people meets formally to vote on his or her nomination. The deadline for informing the Central Elections Commission of such a meeting was Thursday.
Kasparov's spokeswoman, Marina Litvinovich, accused the government of pressuring the owners of Moscow auditoriums and meeting halls.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the accusation absurd. "The Kremlin isn't involved in renting out halls, and blaming the Kremlin in any way in this case would be considered incorrect," he said.
Meanwhile, Kasparov's wife and daughter were detained at St. Petersburg's airport Wednesday as they tried to board an international flight, Kasparov's supporters said. They were released after having their documents checked and after the flight had departed.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.