Russian Opposition Leader Urges Unity of Opposition Groups
Interfax - 6.4.12 - JRL 2012-101

MOSCOW. June 4 (Interfax) - One of Russia's opposition leaders, Vladimir Ryzhkov, has called on liberal opposition parties to unify and said the existence of several opposition parties with "95% coincidence" of programs was "stupid."

"I'm sure that we mustn't get divided but must unify. I have always been ready for this myself, something that I have proven more than once in practice," Ryzhkov, who heads the Republican Party, said on his Facebook page.

"On the democratic flank there exist the following parties that are registered or getting ready for registration: Yabloko, the Republican Party together with PARNAS (the People's Freedom Party), an application has been filed for the registration of Democratic Choice, and Andrei Nechayev wants to set up his own party. And now there's Mikhail Prokhorov into the bargain," Ryzhkov said.

He was referring to the initiative by Prokhorov, a billionaire and a former candidate for president of Russia, to set up a party to be called Civil Platform.

"The coalitions are prohibited, and it's also prohibited to be on the tickets of other parties. This means we'll compete with one another at elections. Given the huge coincidence of the political programs, I consider this to be stupid. There's 95% coincidence and 5% difference," Ryzhkov said.

Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russian News - Russia

MOSCOW. June 4 (Interfax) - One of Russia's opposition leaders, Vladimir Ryzhkov, has called on liberal opposition parties to unify and said the existence of several opposition parties with "95% coincidence" of programs was "stupid."

"I'm sure that we mustn't get divided but must unify. I have always been ready for this myself, something that I have proven more than once in practice," Ryzhkov, who heads the Republican Party, said on his Facebook page.

"On the democratic flank there exist the following parties that are registered or getting ready for registration: Yabloko, the Republican Party together with PARNAS (the People's Freedom Party), an application has been filed for the registration of Democratic Choice, and Andrei Nechayev wants to set up his own party. And now there's Mikhail Prokhorov into the bargain," Ryzhkov said.

He was referring to the initiative by Prokhorov, a billionaire and a former candidate for president of Russia, to set up a party to be called Civil Platform.

"The coalitions are prohibited, and it's also prohibited to be on the tickets of other parties. This means we'll compete with one another at elections. Given the huge coincidence of the political programs, I consider this to be stupid. There's 95% coincidence and 5% difference," Ryzhkov said.