Two Russian parties merge into one stronger party
Mikhail Kasyanov, prime minister from 2000 to 2004 during Putin's first term as president but now a fierce critic, and former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, united their People's Freedom Party with former lawmaker Vladimir Ryzhkov's Republican Party of Russia (RPR).
"Our main goal is a change in the country's political course. This can be achieved only via free elections," Kasyanov said on the sideline of a conference where party delegates created the new party RPR-PARNAS.
Putin, who returned to the Kremlin in May for a six-year term, responded to the protesters by promising modest electoral reforms including easing registration requirements to enable more parties to contest elections.
But he also approved legislation setting harsher fines, in some cases thousands of dollars, for participants in demonstrations which violate public order.
Mikhail Kasyanov, prime minister from 2000 to 2004 during Putin's first term as president but now a fierce critic, and former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, united their People's Freedom Party with former lawmaker Vladimir Ryzhkov's Republican Party of Russia (RPR).
"Our main goal is a change in the country's political course. This can be achieved only via free elections," Kasyanov said on the sideline of a conference where party delegates created the new party RPR-PARNAS.
Putin, who returned to the Kremlin in May for a six-year term, responded to the protesters by promising modest electoral reforms including easing registration requirements to enable more parties to contest elections.
But he also approved legislation setting harsher fines, in some cases thousands of dollars, for participants in demonstrations which violate public order.
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