Russia moves to bar Navalny allies from parliamentary race

FILE PHOTO: Lyubov Sobol, a Russian opposition figure and a close ally of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, speaks with journalists after a court hearing in Moscow, Russia April 15, 2021. REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's parliament approved a bill on Tuesday that would bar members of "extremist" organisations from serving as lawmakers, a move that allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny say aims to stop them running in September's parliamentary election.

The bill, which the lower house of parliament approved in a first reading, comes as a court is considering outlawing Navalny's anti-corruption foundation and regional campaign groups as extremist.