As Russian elections get closer, there is only one truely recognized candidate running for office. Now, former Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, is petitioning to run in the elections. He is said to have submitted a list of supporters containing over two million names. " Russian law requires candidates who lack the backing of a party with seats in parliament to deliver the petition."
On Wednesday, January 16, he arrived at the election commision office where "[h]e told the BBC he did not believe the election would be free or fair." A free and fair election would most likely still not get him into office because "[h]e was sacked as prime minister in 2004 and subsequently investigated for corruption - a move he claimed was politically motivated."
This does not apparently deter Kasyanov from running. But, he said, he was running for the presidency in order to defend the "democratic" institutions he had empowered during his time in government.
"Today I feel that all my... results are being destroyed by this current regime," he said.
To read the article in its entirety here.
Although he has little chance of winning, Kasyanov is utilizing the Russian law that "requires candidates who lack the backing of a party with seats in parliament to deliver the petition." He is essentially showing Putin that not every Russian approves of the way things are being run now and do not wish for Putin's "lap dog" to gain office.
1 comment:
Don't forget the link.
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