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Putin opponent to be investigated Putin opponent to be investigated
(about 2 hours later)
Russian prosecutors are to open a criminal inquiry into the presidential candidacy of former PM Mikhail Kasyanov, Russian news agencies say. Russian prosecutors have opened a criminal case against former PM Mikhail Kasyanov - an opposition candidate in the 2 March presidential election.
Reports say prosecutors are looking into whether some of the signatures on his nomination papers were faked. They accuse his campaign of forging some of the reported two million signatures on his nomination papers.
Mr Kasyanov once served under President Vladimir Putin but was dismissed in 2004 and is now an opposition figure.
Mr Kasyanov is challenging Mr Putin's candidate Dmitry Medvedev. Mr Putin himself is barred from the March poll.Mr Kasyanov is challenging Mr Putin's candidate Dmitry Medvedev. Mr Putin himself is barred from the March poll.
He is not allowed more than two consecutive terms as president, but is widely expected to retain his influence in the Kremlin. He says he would like to be prime minister under a Medvedev presidency. A spokeswoman for Mr Kasyanov's campaign described the prosecutors' move as "political pressure".
'Harassment'
On Saturday he issued a statement complaining of official harassment.
Mr Kasyanov was dismissed as prime minister in 2004, and the BBC's James Rogers, reporting from Moscow, says his political journey has turned him from a loyal member of the Putin administration to an implacable critic of the Kremlin.
The authorities refused to register his political party, which is why he was obliged to support his candidacy with a list of signatures.
But the authorities now say they suspect more than 15,000 of these are fakes.
Mr Putin is standing down as president because he is not allowed more than two consecutive terms as president.
President Putin wants to continue working with Dmitry MedvedevPresident Putin wants to continue working with Dmitry Medvedev
Mr Kasyanov had previously accused the Kremlin of trying to sabotage his election bid. A spokeswoman for his campaign described the prosecutors' move as "political pressure". But he is widely expected to retain his influence in the Kremlin. He says he would like to be prime minister under the presidency of his protégé Mr Medvedev, who is hot favourite to win.
Mr Kasyanov submitted a petition carrying what he said was two million signatures supporting his candidacy after the authorities refused to register his political party. Two other candidates have also registered for the poll - Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov and Vladimir Zhirinovsky of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party.
Two other candidates have also registered for the poll - Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov and Vladimir Zhirinovsky of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party. The final candidates list is to be announced on Sunday. A leading liberal, former chess champion Garry Kasparov, had planned to run but said he could not after his supporters were not allowed to rent halls for nomination meetings.
The final candidates list is to be announced on Sunday.
Western observers accused the Kremlin of interfering in parliamentary elections last year, and have urged the Russian authorities to stand back in the presidential poll.