Moscow Times - 03.26.2004

 

 

 

 

The Moscow Times

Nevzlin Offers to Fund Party

By Carl Schreck, Staff Writer 

Leonid Nevzlin, Yukos' largest shareholder not in jail, has offered to fund the new political party of opposition presidential candidate Irina Khakamada.

Nevzlin, who is residing in Israel to avoid prosecution in Russia, where he is facing charges of fraud and tax evasion, said he is ready to put his money on the line to back Khakamada's newly created Free Russia party.

"I want to allow Russia to go down the path of democracy," Nevzlin said Thursday in a telephone interview with Interfax. "And for that reason I'm ready to support the democratic party that Irina Khakamada is creating."

It was not immediately known whether Khakamada would accept his offer. Her spokesman, Konstantin Lazerev, said she would release a statement Thursday evening on her web site, Hakamada.ru, but as of 8:30 p.m. it had not been posted.

Earlier this year, Nevzlin said he would help fund Khakamada's presidential campaign. Khakamada, however, later denied that she had taken any money from him.

Nevzlin did not specify the amount of money he would like to give, Interfax reported, saying only that he will likely be "one of many who is ready to support this initiative, and that's why I'm ready to offer only partial financing necessary for building the party."

Lazerev said Free Russia is actively seeking financial backers.

Khakamada was a founder and co-leader of the Union of Right Forces, or SPS, but it did not support her candidacy, and she officially left the party earlier this week. 

Khakamada has described Free Russia as a "democratic, opposition party" that will work to attract new people, particularly young Russians, and build on "the energy and initiative of civil society" to change the country's course.

The party's organizing committee held its first meeting Tuesday.

Another former SPS leader, Boris Nemtsov, has left politics. He is head of the board of directors of Neftyanoi, and this week joined the board of Rostik Group, which owns Rosinter Restaurants, which owns the Patio Pizza, Planeta Sushi and Rostik's chains.