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Prokhorov to invite proven professionals to his team if he wins election

He did not specify and gave only a couple of names

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

ST. PETERSBURG, February 1 (Itar-Tass) — Billionaire and presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov said his government would consist not of a large number of celebrities but of new and young people.

Speaking at a press conference in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Prokhorov said that “unknown but very professional people” would be appointed to his government if he wins the presidential election in March.

He did not specify and gave only a couple of names. In his opinion, businessman Maxim Nogotkov, one of the owners of the Svyaznoi mobile phone retail chain stores, could become a minister for youth affairs; Yevgeny Bunimovich, the children’s ombudsman in Moscow, could head the Ministry of Education; and Maxim Odnoblyubov, Director-General of the closed joint stock company Optogan (makes light emitting diodes), could take up the post of minister for development and innovations.

Prokhorov did not name other potential candidates. “I do not want to announce any names to save them from trouble in their businesses,” he said, adding that “these are unknown but very professional people”.

He did not rule out that some government officials could also join his team if they are able to work in a new format.

At a similar press conference in Moscow earlier, Prokhorov said he would invite Artyom Bektemirov, co-owner of the chain of 36.6 pharmacies; human rights activist Irina Yasina; his own sister Irina Prokhorova, who is the head of the Fund of Cultural Initiatives; former minister Alexander Pochinok; and New Economic School Deputy Rector Konstantin Sonin.

Prokhorov believes that the Ministry of Health and Social Development into two and the part dealing with healthcare should also oversee environmental protection. In his opinion, physician Alexander Myasnikov, who is now working at one of the Moscow hospitals, could become a new minister of health.

If he wins the election, Prokhorov will impose a “categorical ban on the production operations at unique natural sites” and will call for a relocation of the pulp-and-paper plant from Lake Baikal.

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