All that refers to Mikhail Kasyanov, Russia's recent Prime Minister. Experts have dubbed him as "a Russian Yushchenko"-they find him the best possible presidential candidate of the united Russian opposition, if Russia re-enacted sensational Ukrainian developments.
The charismatic gentleman has made his second public appearance since the year's start, and called newsmen together. To get into the limelight is his sole purpose, some may say. Whether they are right or not, the ex-Premier clearly means to show his readiness to run in a federal election.
Still, he is a marshal with no army at all.
As soon as he addressed his first news conference as democratic hopeful in February, to transparently hint at his determination to lead the liberal opposition, a majority of democratic political activists started throwing mud at their tentative rival.
Some alleged his Cabinet had been pursuing anti-popular policies. Others pointed out his closeness to the Boris Yeltsin team. Still others circulated all sorts of sinister rumors. Even ardent partisans of liberal unity gave him up, saying Kasyanov's political past would badly commit their brand-new political endeavor.
"But then, to pose as an innocent in a guilty milieu is the last thing Kasyanov is doing. He is merely pledging to bring a particular political wing together. As for labels, they may be attached to anyone in active politics," said Irina Hakamada, leader of the democratic political party, Our Choice.
The liberal unity cause has not made even a tiny step forward ever since Kasyanov first appeared as tentative opposition leader. Just the contrary-we see ever more splits in the liberal camp.
Thus, Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Ryzhkov were the hottest proponents of democratic opposition unity. Now, these two have parted ways.
"It isn't unity liberals are after-they have a tug of war to lead the election list. Kasyanov is coming as their formidable rival, and don't forget he is part of the Establishment," Hakamada said to Novosti.
Be all that as it may, democrats will sooner or later flock round the ex-Premier if only he chooses to take up practical politics. She is convinced of that.
Sharing her opinion is a man from the contrary opposition wing-Sergei Glazyev, one of the Left "patriotic" bloc leaders.
"Kasyanov is candidate number one thanks to his political resource. He is a household name. That and his practical experience make him a locomotive of the cosmopolitan liberal train. Liberals have no choice - either they gather round Kasyanov or they will lose the next Duma poll," he said to Novosti.
Glazyev was never sympathizing with the policies Kasyanov's Cabinet was pursuing, he pointed out. Despite all that, he acknowledges that a sweeping growth of Russian economic indices fell on Kasyanov's premiership.
Other liberals conspicuously silent, Kasyanov, meanwhile, sensationally called on Social Democrats to come under his colors. If that comes true, he will spectacularly enlarge the scope of his political siding.
"I don't think it is wise just now to lead any particular political party. My membership of whatever party is out of the agenda for today. I am merely making efforts to bring democratic forces together, and I never limit those efforts to liberals and the Right Center," he said today.
The ex-Premier offered ample arguments to substantiate his point-there is the dramatic Yukos affair, which is approaching a denouement, and there are new patterns for elections to parliament's lower house, which all but rule out new people coming to the Duma.
To all appearances, ostentatious silence will again come in answer to everything Mikhail Kasyanov is doing. He is not particularly welcome-his charisma is strong enough to outshine all who were modestly working in their democratic garden year in, year out.
