RPR-PARNAS Bureau’s recommendation to nominate Navalny is not mandatory – Ryzhkov

(Interfax – MOSCOW, June 9, 2013) The Bureau of the Opposition Republican Party of Russia – People’s Freedom Party (RPR-PARNAS) adopted a recommendation on Sunday to nominate opposition blogger Alexei Navalny to run for Moscow mayor, the party’s co-chairman Vladimir Ryzhkov told Interfax.

“The recommendation was adopted following a preliminary discussion. By law, the recommendation has no legal force. The party’s Moscow organization alone has the right of nomination,” Ryzhkov said.

He said that the final decision can be made after the party members meet with Navalny and discuss his program.

“We have proposed that a meeting be held with Navalny and his program discussed next week at a congress of the Moscow organization,” Ryzhkov said.

He said support for Navalny’s nomination was not unanimous.

“Six members of the Bureau voted for Navalny and three against. Some of the Bureau members have serious ideological disagreements with the nominee,” Ryzhkov said.