"I believe that the right should forever abandon 'Westernism' as part of their ideology," Vladimir Shmelev, the leader of the New Right party, told a news conference. "Democracy is an independent choice of our people, not imposed from Washington, but made here in Russia,"
He also said the rightwing movement needed new leaders, fresh blood, adding that it should stay away from any alliances with "Communists, Nazis and leftist extremists."
Shmelev said his party was not going to team up with either Yabloko or the Union of Right Forces (SPS), the country's two most established liberal parties, since they were no longer politically relevant forces in Russia.
"We have a long list of grievances against the ruling regime. We see ourselves as a right-wing opposition," he said.
Shmelev said his party believed centralization of power should not be extended to local governments that in fact needed more autonomy and a greater slice of tax revenues.
He also spoke in favor of granting more rights to entrepreneurs and nurturing a free economy, adding that while rectifying the country's economic situation, the ruling authorities "should not be putting a squeeze on business, infringing on its rights, constantly questioning its civic responsibility, and strong-arming it to support social projects."
The authorities have asked the business community to be "socially responsible" in the past few years. Russian media reported Thursday that President Vladimir Putin had asked representatives to provide financial backing for anti-terrorism measures.
