Russian opposition forms coalition to challenge Putin, Medvedev

Russian opposition forms coalition

MOSCOW — Some of Russia’s prominent opposition leaders have formed a coalition to challenge the rule of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Former deputy premier Boris Nemtsov says the coalition will fight to overcome the current election law, which he calls repressive.

The law requires parties to get at least 7 percent of the nationwide vote to get seats in parliament, a barrier opposition groups say effectively shuts them out.

Russia’s liberal opposition forces have been fractured, but Nemtsov said Thursday the coalition aims to compete in next year’s parliamentary elections and field a presidential candidate in 2012.

Another player in the coalition is Mikhail Kasyanov, prime minister during much of Putin’s first term as president.