On Monday, former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and potential presidential candidate could be in the process of being charged with fraud. With Russia's next election season on the horizon, the Kremlin is taking few chances to assure success of its parties and politicians.

Prior to the 2004 parliamentary elections, Kremlin spin-doctors created and supported left-nationalist Rodina as a means to steal votes from the Communist Party. Under the leadership of Dmitry Rogozin and Sergei Glazyev, Rodina succeed beyond expectations. Soon after the election, co-chairman of the party Glazyev lost a leadership fight against Rogozin. Since then, Rodina has played the role of being a semi-loyal opposition. The party supports President Vladimir Putin, while against the government of Mikhail Fradkov.

Rodina's semi-opposition stance toward the Kremlin appears to be longer of interest for the original patrons of the party. In much the same way Rogozin disposed of Glazyev, members of Rodina have parted ways with Rogozin - and most probably at the Kremlin's behest.

Sergei Baburin, heading factions within Rodina called People's Will-Socialist United Party of Russia openly split with Rogozin, was evicted by the party earlier in the month, but was given a favorable hearing in parliament to have his factions registered in the lower house under the Rodina name as well.

On Friday the request was granted, with the added proviso that that Baburin's faction be called "Rodina-People's Will-Socialist United Party of Russia." Baburin has said he expects other members of Rogozin's faction to follow the eight other deputies who have defected to his Rodina faction. Rogozin has stated that he will sue parliament for this decision.

This is a harsh blow to Rogozin's political ambitions and his faction of Rodina. Telegenic, even charismatic, Rogozin's strident nationalist message has attracted the attention and the loyalty among many voters. A year and half ago the Kremlin may never have anticipated this.

Baburin's faction of Rodina will most likely fall into the Kremlin's majority party United Russia. With his faction truncated, Rogozin will now have to address how to rebuild his power base during a time when new election rules demand all parties have a strong regional and local presence. With parliamentary election in two years, the Kremlin may be hoping that Rogozin will spend more time assessing the damage done as a result of the party split than on criticizing the government.

The right is not the only party of the political spectrum in disarray. Former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, a strong critic of the Kremlin, and potential presidential candidate in 2008 is reported to be under investigation on charges of fraud. According to media reports, Kasyanov acquired an elite piece of property at lower than market value on the day he was dismissed from office in 2004. Kasyanov denies any wrongdoing.

Accusations of corruption and other forms of illegal activity are nothing new for Kasyanov. As finance minister under Boris Yeltsin and prime minister during Putin's first term in office, Kasyanov earned the nickname "Misha 2 percent" when either negotiating Russia's foreign debt or deal making for Russia's "oligarchs." However, this is the first time Kasyanov has been charged with a crime while he served as a state official.

Recently, Kasyanov has returned from a year of political hibernation to condemn Kremlin policies and to publicly muse about his political future as part of Russia's liberal opposition. "It is not important who comes to power in 2008. It is important that this person becomes the leader of movement toward democratic values," Kasyanov said at press conference exactly a year after his was dismissed from his post. He is also known to have established contacts and sought support from Western politicians at odds with Putin's Kremlin.

Russia's liberal opposition, unable to unify into a single party to confront the Kremlin, has not exactly reacted to Kasyanov's desire to join their ranks with open arms. Monday's revelation that of criminal investigation has started centered on Kasyanov may be designed to remind politicians of all persuasions that Kasyanov's nickname ties him closer to big money and the hated group of the super-wealthy known as the 'oligarchs" than to meaningful interest in liberalism or opposition to the Kremlin.

Over the course of a few days, the Kremlin has struck swiftly and harshly against real and imagined political threats. The Kremlin created Rodina and Rogozin -- it appears to be able to manage the evolution of both.

The case of Kasyanov is different. He has little public support, even among liberals. However, putting Kasyanov on trial for fraud may eventually turn him into exactly what he wants - the focus of all opposition to the Kremlin with Western support. If the Kremlin is not careful, its obsession with political opposition could backfire against it.

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express