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Former Russian Prime Minister Urges Election Boycott
December 01, 2006
Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov (file photo) (AFP)
December 1, 2006 – Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov called on the opposition to boycott next year's parliamentary elections.
Kasyanov told the Reuters news agency that the vote would be an "imitation of democracy."
Kasyanov, head of the opposition People’s Democratic Union, said in Moscow that the Kremlin would manipulate the poll to ensure that only loyal parties win seats.
Kasyanov, 48, is expected to be the leading opposition candidate in the 2008 presidential election.
(Reuters)