Radical opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov will fight to become Moscow's next mayor, despite being under house arrest in connection with accusations of having plotted mass unrest.
A message that appeared on the Left Front leader's twitter account said he "intends to enter his candidacy for early elections for the Moscow mayor post." He also did not exclude the possibility that a single united candidate could be agreed on by opposition movements, RIA-Novosti reported.
Udaltsov is accused of plotting mass unrest at a protest on Moscow's Bolotnaya Ploshchad on May 6, 2012 and has been under house arrest since February of this year.
Apart from the current mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, Udaltsov's opponents could include Yabloko leader Sergei Mitrokhin, opposition activist Alexei Navalny, and Green Alliance — People's Party chairman Oleg Mitvol, among others.
Former mayor Yuri Luzhkov may also enter the election race, Vedomosti reported.
Sergei Sobyanin was appointed Mayor for a term of five years in October 2010, but announced Tuesday that he would step down and seek reelection in Autumn. The election is set to take place on September 8.
The last time direct Mayoral elections were held in the capital was 2003, when Yuri Luzhkov, ensconced since 1992, won the ballot.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.