Russia wants to ban Kremlin opponent from election
Kremlin critic Mikhail Kasyanov should be barred from Russia's presidential election, officials said on Thursday, a move likely to fuel criticism that authorities brook little real opposition.
Kasyanov has no chance of winning, but disqualifying him would remove an outspoken Kremlin foe from a contest the opposition says is already slanted in favor of Dmitry Medvedev, the man President Vladimir Putin has backed to succeed him.
Doubts are also growing that the main opposition contender, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, will run in the March 2 election. He said he was thinking of pulling out because he was being denied fair coverage on state-controlled television.
Posted by: Fred 2008-01-25 |