One of Russia’s richest tycoons said yesterday that he would run for president against Vladimir Putin in next year’s election, prompting speculation that the Kremlin may be trying to contain growing public dissent in its “managed” democracy.
Mikhail Prokhorov, the third-richest man in Russia, entered the political fray after protests at the weekend that saw thousands of voters demonstrate in Moscow over alleged vote-rigging in parliamentary elections. Mr Putin’s announcement in September that, after four years as prime minister, he would return to the presidency next year, has fanned anger, particularly among the middle class.
Mr Prokhorov’s decision to run came as Alexei Kudrin, former finance minister, said he would support the creation of a liberal party as an alternative to Mr Putin’s United Russia. The timing fuelled speculation that the politicians were not acting independently, but had received a nudge of encouragement from the Kremlin.