An outspoken Russian nationalist, Boris Mironov, has been allowed to be included in the list of presidential candidates by a Supreme Court decision on Monday, in what is seen as an unprecedented case.
Mironov, the author of the several nationalist books, was charged in 2004 with inciting ethnic hatred but four years later the case against him was closed because of the statute of limitation. One of Mironov’s books, written in 2005, was found extremist by court in 2010.
Last week Russia’s Central Election Commission turned down Mironov’s presidential bid, citing this court decision. The Supreme Court, however, revoked the commission’s decision because according to the law someone with a criminal record can become a candidate in the presidential election if the crimes were committed more than four years prior to polling.
Mironov could return to the presidential race as the country’s nationalists become one of the most powerful forces in the nationwide protests against the results of the December 4 parliamentary elections, in which Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia received a small majority amid allegations of vote-rigging in its favor.
“The regime is demonstrating some kind of steps towards nationalists,” the head of Russia’s Panorama political think tank, Vladimir Pribylovsky said. “Another symbolic move is the appointment of Dmitry Rogozin, who is known for his nationalist views, as a deputy prime minister.”
Rogozin, who was Russia’s envoy to NATO became Russia’s deputy prime minister responsible for the defense industry on Friday. Alexei Navalny, one of the leaders of the protest movement, also has a strong nationalist streak in his rhetoric.
Another Russian radical opposition leader, Eduard Limonov, was denied registration in presidential elections on some formal grounds.
Russian presidential elections are scheduled for March 4, 2012.
