Opposition activist Alexey Navalny has been barred from competing in Russia's presidential election next year. The decision by the Central Election Commission (CEC) exposes as hollow President Vladimir Putin's claim that he wants Russia to have a "competitive" political system. That is unlikely so long as Putin remains in power.

Navalny's rejection was expected. Russian law prohibits anyone from running for president who has a criminal conviction. Navalny counters that the criminal charge and subsequent conviction was designed to keep him out of politics. He was convicted of fraud, the decision was overturned by the Russian Supreme Court and he was retried and found guilty in a proceeding and verdict that virtually repeated the first trial. That piece of theater won condemnation from the European Court of Human Rights.

The CEC decision was anticipated. It eliminates the most prominent alternative to Putin, but it was done in a way that allows Russia to claim that it is a country ruled by law. It was also unnecessary, however. Putin enjoys great support among the Russian people and the opposition is too divided and too small to win a national ballot.