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PARNAS to be registered on basis of Republican Party

Kasyanov said the renovated party will be an ideological successor to PARNAS

MOSCOW, April 18 (Itar-Tass) — The People's Freedom Party (PARNAS) will be registered on the basis of the Republican Party of Russia, according to the decision made by the PARNAS Federal Political Council on Wednesday, April 16.

The party is co-chaired by former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Vladimir Ryzhkov and Boris Nemtsov. It was created about two years ago but could not obtain official registration from the Justice Ministry.

Republican Party Co-Chair Valentina Melnikova welcomed the Federal Political Council’s decision. “I am glad that the Republican Party will provide the platform for a big democratic party,” she said.

Kasyanov said the renovated party will be an ideological successor to PARNAS. “Our task is to right to freedom and against corruption,” he said.

He said the name of the party would be determined by a congress to be held no later than July 8.

Kasyanov stressed that the party hopes to participate in the upcoming regional elections this autumn. “Registration is needed in order to be allowed to participate in the elections,” he said.

The People’s Freedom Party was created in December 2010. Mikhail Kasyanov, Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Milov and Vladimir Ryzhkov became its co-chairmen. Documents for registration were submitted in late May 2011. At that time, PARNAS had 53 regional offices and more than 46,000 members.

The Justice Ministry denied registration to the party in June on account that its charter “contains provisions that contravene the Law on Political Parties or other federal laws”.

Russian Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov said court would dot the i's and cross the t's in the dispute over the registration of PARNAS (People’s Freedom Party).

Consultations have been held lately on how to create the most favourable conditions for the consideration of repeat requests for registration of parties after they have remedied violations exposed during initial checks.

“We take the situation calmly despite criticism,” Konovalov said. “We are confident that our position is correct and lawful,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Republican Party led by Ryzhkov has all chances to be included in the state register. In early 2012, the Russian Supreme Court cancelled its previous ruling on the liquidation of the party. Its registration was rescinded in 2007 as failing to meet legislative requirements concerning the number of party members. The European Court of Human Rights, where the party appealed, ruled that the liquidation of the party was unlawful.

New legislation simplifies registration of political parties in Russia.