Medvedev: Decision not to register party not political

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says there is no political motivation behind the Justice Ministry's refusal to register opposition Party of People's Freedom. The Justice Ministry denied registration to the party on Wednesday on the grounds that some of its members were dead before the constituent congress on December 13, 2010 or were underage or could not be found at the addresses indicated in the application documents. Medvedev: Decision not to register party not political "They should not have attempted to register the party knowing that there were some violations [in registration procedures]," Medvedev told Moscow-based daily Moskovskiye Novosti on Thursday. "I believe that the existing registration procedures will be gradually simplified, but any party should follow them while they still exist," the president said. Russian opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Milov, Vladimir Ryzhkov and Mikhail Kasyanov founded the Party of People's Freedom in 2010 and said it would put forward its presidential candidate in the summer of 2011. Nemtsov said on Wednesday the denial of registration was a "political" decision that had no basis in law. Russia will hold parliamentary elections in December and presidential elections next March. Commenting on potential of one of the wealthiest people in Russia and the whole world, Onexim Group owner Mikhail Prokhorov who should soon become a head the Right Cause Party, Medvedev said it was too early to assess his future success but added that he did not doubt his abilities. “He heads a major company, earned a lot of money, and really wants to deal with the party,” the Russian president explained. He also did not rule out a possibility that he himself could head some party. “It is hard to say for now what the name of the party will be and whether it will be an existing party or one that I will form myself, or if it will be an alliance of several parties. Besides, I think that political environment needs to change. I am almost convinced that most of our parties will be redesigned in ten years,” Medvedev pointed out. Dmitry Medvedev (FoNet, file)

Medvedev: Decision not to register party not political

"They should not have attempted to register the party knowing that there were some violations [in registration procedures]," Medvedev told Moscow-based daily Moskovskiye Novosti on Thursday.

"I believe that the existing registration procedures will be gradually simplified, but any party should follow them while they still exist," the president said.

Russian opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Milov, Vladimir Ryzhkov and Mikhail Kasyanov founded the Party of People's Freedom in 2010 and said it would put forward its presidential candidate in the summer of 2011.

Nemtsov said on Wednesday the denial of registration was a "political" decision that had no basis in law.

Russia will hold parliamentary elections in December and presidential elections next March.

Commenting on potential of one of the wealthiest people in Russia and the whole world, Onexim Group owner Mikhail Prokhorov who should soon become a head the Right Cause Party, Medvedev said it was too early to assess his future success but added that he did not doubt his abilities.

“He heads a major company, earned a lot of money, and really wants to deal with the party,” the Russian president explained.

He also did not rule out a possibility that he himself could head some party.

“It is hard to say for now what the name of the party will be and whether it will be an existing party or one that I will form myself, or if it will be an alliance of several parties. Besides, I think that political environment needs to change. I am almost convinced that most of our parties will be redesigned in ten years,” Medvedev pointed out.