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Ukraine boxer Vitaly Klitschko to seek presidency Ukraine boxer Vitali Klitschko to seek presidency
(35 minutes later)
Ukrainian former world heavyweight boxing champ Vitaly Klitschko has confirmed he will run in the country's 2015 presidential election. Ukrainian former world heavyweight boxing champ, Vitali Klitschko, has confirmed he will run in the country's 2015 presidential election.
He said he was standing despite a vote in parliament that could prevent his bid, because he has a residency permit issued in Germany. He made his announcement in response to a bill passed in parliament that bars candidates who have lived outside Ukraine during the past 10 years.
Mr Klitschko - an MP in a pro-Western party - said he was not intimidated by Thursday's motion. Mr Klitschko - an MP in a pro-Western party - has lived in Germany
He has criticised President Viktor Yanukovych as authoritarian. "Everything that has taken place in parliament today... does not intimidate me and will not stop me," he said.
"To head off these various schemes and attempts at getting even with me as a possible candidate, I want to declare this: I will run for president."
The move makes him the first declared contender against the incumbent president, Viktor Yanukovich, who is widely expected to seek a second term.
Mr Klitschko has criticised President Yanukovich as authoritarian.
The 42-year-old heads a party called Udar, which translates as 'Punch', but actually stands for Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reforms.
It came third in last year's parliamentary elections.
"My main goal is for Ukraine to be a European, modern country with European standards of life," Mr Klitschko told the BBC in August.
"I will decide with people who have the same vision, the same dream, to go into politics and from the inside to change the situation."
He has spoken out against corruption in the country and the jailing of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko for abuse of office - a charge that her supporters claim was politically motivated.
"We can't be a democratic country with political prisoners," he said.
Mr Klitschko is also pushing to strengthen Ukraine's links with the EU. "We see our future in the European family. We are European with our mentality, with our history," he said.