Russian presidential hopeful to form "non-political" party February 28, 2012 - 16:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Billionaire businessman and Putin election challenger Mikhail Prokhorov said on Tuesday, Feb 28, he is forming a "non-political" party seeking to unite Russia's civil society. "It will be an absolutely new party. It will be built, if you will, according to a non-political principle," Prokhorov said at a news conference, RIA Novosti reported. The tycoon and owner of the U.S. NBA New Jersey Nets basketball team is the only independent candidate running in Sunday's presidential polls, which Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who held the presidential post between 2000 and 2008, is almost certain to win. "No one has ever done this before, and we'd like to be the first to create a party which will unite our civil society," Prokhorov, seen by critics as a Kremlin project designed to split the opposition, told the Moscow news conference. The tycoon, ranked by Forbes as Russia's third richest man with a fortune of around $18 billion, took the leadership of a pro-Kremlin party last year but was ousted following a split. He accused the then deputy Kremlin chief of staff Vladislav Surkov of orchestrating his downfall. He has also attended at least two major anti-government protests in Moscow, which erupted after December's disputed parliamentary elections won by Putin's United Russia party. In Moscow on Tuesday, Prokhorov said his new party would "have no leaders" and would be a "superstructure" above existing parties. He earlier described it as an "independent right-wing party" and said its offices would be opening across Russia after the March 4 vote.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush provinceNarek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28.Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia.Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |
