Kremlin foe says being pressed out of presidential race

MOSCOW - Former Russian Prime Minister and Kremlin critic Mikhail Kasyanov said on Saturday the interior and justice ministries were conducting a coordinated campaign to prevent him running for president.

The March 2 presidential election looks almost certain to be won by current President Vladimir Putin's preferred candidate Dmitry Medvedev, allowing the popular Putin to retain influence after the constitution obliges him to step down.

Kasyanov, who earlier this week applied to the Central Election Commission to run, said state law-enforcement officials were putting heavy pressure upon members of his opposition Popular Democratic Front.

Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov speaks to the media outside the office of the Central Election Commission in Moscow January 16, 2008. Kasyanov said on Saturday the interior and justice ministries were conducting a coordinated campaign to prevent him running for president. (REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin)

"With references to orders by higher authorities, people are threatened, pressed to confess to alleged illegal activities, forced to abandon membership in the political party," Kasyanov said in a statement published on his web site.

"I am decidedly protesting against the anti-constitutional and provocative actions of the authorities which are supposed to guard law and order," he added.

Kasyanov is running as an independent in the election because his party is not represented in a parliament dominated by pro-Kremlin groups.

The election commission is expected decide on Jan. 27 whether he is qualified to stand as a presidential candidate.

Kasyanov, who entered politics as an opposition leader after Putin dismissed him as prime minister in 2004, has said he did not hope for fair presidential campaign as television was denied to him on state-controlled channels.

Critics say Putin will exploit his power and control over the biggest media outlets to ensure victory for Medvedev.

Putin's supporters say Putin has restored stability to Russia after the chaos of the immediate post-Soviet period of market reforms.