MOSCOW, September 13 (RIA Novosti) - Supporters of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former CEO of the troubled oil giant Yukos, said they were confident of his victory in Moscow by-elections.
"We are certain of his victory," said Ivan Starikov, the head of the initiative group that advanced Khodorkovsky's candidacy for the University district, and secretary of the political council of the right-wing Union of Right Forces party.
He cited a survey conducted in the district that found that 30% of local voters were ready to back Khodorkovsky in the election.
However, Khodorkovsky's supporters declined to elaborate on the details of his campaign.
Representatives of the Union of Right Forces, the liberal Yabloko party, the Communist Party and the right-wing radical Nationalist Bolshevik party only offered general comments about "rapprochement between the [right]-wingers and liberals."
Alexander Veshnyakov, the chairman of the Central Election Commission, said earlier that the Russian constitution allowed anyone against whom a court sentence has not come into force to vote and run in elections.
Under the law, if a court ruling comes into force during the election campaign, a candidate's registration is cancelled.
If a candidate has been elected after which a court sentence comes into force, only the lower house of parliament can strip the candidate of the mandate and parliamentary immunity.
Duma by-elections in the University district in southwestern Moscow have been scheduled for Dec. 4. Candidates are required to collect 5,000 signatures or pay a cash advance.
Khodorkovsky has been sentenced to nine years in jail, but his lawyers are appealing the verdict. The appeal is due to be considered Sept. 14.
