MOSCOW. March 31 (Interfax) - The Novaya Gazeta newspaper is likely to consolidate in a media conglomerate in the near future.

"Our shareholders, Alexander Lebedev (a businessman and a former Russian MP) and Mikhail Gorbachev (the former Soviet president) have asked us to consider setting up a conglomerate that would include several newspapers, a radio station, several Internet resources, and possibly an in-house pollster, all led by Novaya Gazeta. This is why we are now holding consultations and brainstorming," Novaya Gazeta editor- in-chief Dmitry Muratov said on the eve of the paper's 15th anniversary, to be celebrated on April 1.

Development in such a direction "is an urgent need," he said.

Asked whether new publications will be created or acquisitions made, Muratov said that he could not disclose such information without the shareholders' approval but admitted that "an acquisition could also be an option."

The shareholders have also asked management to begin developing regional publications, and a special program is now being worked out, he said.

"This is going to be our focus for the next three years," Muratov said.