Russia’s Election Commission disqualified a former prime minister from the March 2 presidential election, claiming many of the signatures of support submitted were not valid.

The Election Commission has announced its refusal to register Mikhail Kasyanov, an ardent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, EuroNews.net reported Sunday.

The commission reportedly found that more than 13 percent of the required signatures of support submitted by Kasyanov were invalid.

Kasyanov accuses the Kremlin of trying to sabotage his campaign, and pave the way to an easier victory for Dmitry Medvedev.

Other official candidates include ultra-nationalist Vladimir Jirinovski, communist Genadi Zuganov and another pro-Kremlin candidate, Andrei Bogdanov.

President Vladimir Putin and other pro-presidency parties upheld Medvedev’s candidacy, the Kremlin leader saying he “fully and completely” supports the businessman’s bid.

Medvedev is chairman of the state energy giant Gazprom and is regarded by many analysts as Putin’s successor.

Putin is constitutionally barred from a third term, but expressed his intention to retain influence, possibly as prime minister.

“If citizens give a vote of confidence to Medvedev and elect him Russia's president, I will be ready to lead the government,” Putin said last year during a meeting of the largest Russian political party, United Russia.