MOSCOW, February 1 (Itar-Tass) —— Big business tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov, who is running for the Russian presidency in March as a self-nominated candidate, said that he is launching his own project called For Fair Elections.
He told a news conference that he would not approach the michrophone at the oppositional rally due February on February 4 for fundamental reasons.
“I shall be there, but I will not speak,” he said.
Prokhorov said that he respects many of the members of the rally’s organizing committee, but he had no intention of speaking “on the same floor with Putin’s spoilers.”
In the first place, he referred to the leaders of the State Duma opposition, whom he again described as “Duma old-timers.”
“I am inviting all of my supporters, who are not afraid of the frost, to join me in a march to Bolotnaya Square. Then we shall see, depending on how cold it will be. I have made up my mind,” Prokhorov said.
He hopes that the project For Fair Elections would unite observers.
“These days, in our distorted political system, the sole sphere where we shall be able to control the authorities is that of observers at the polling stations,” Prokhorov said, expressing the certainty that in case of the massive presence of observers the outcome of the elections will be far from pre-determined. He is certain that the elections will be held in two rounds, and this will be a blessing for the country, for it gives birth to political competition.”
“If we go and vote on March 4 and 25, we shall be able to change the political system as early as March,” Prokhorov said.
He positioned the project For Fair Elections as a civil project open to anyone. This system should operate after the elections to ensure each case of violations be investigated.
“I always brought all projects to a logical outcome. I shall do so this time, too,” he promised.
Prokhorov said he reached an agreement on cooperation with such associations as Voice, Civil Observer and the League of Observers. Next week Prokhorov hopes to meet with PACE and OSCE officials.
“All of my voter relations offices will be working in close contact with observers,” he said, to have called on his followers to join in.
He also addressed a call for cooperation to those voters who have no candidate to vote for in the elections, including the potential electorate of Grigory Yavlinsky.