Head of the Committee 2008 and ex-chess champion of the world Garri Kasparov said that democrats have to form "a short-lived tactical union" with people "we are very much at variance".
Kasparov told the newspaper Kommersant that December 12, the Constitution Day of the Russian Federation, has been intentionally chosen for the civil forum. The main goal of the large-scale event, expected to gather about 1,000 delegates, is to come out for the preservation of the democratic institute of election and division of branches of power, as well as "shape a broad coalition outside the rigid ideological framework".
The communist leaders, including the KPRF leader Gennadi Zyuganov, have already given their preliminary consent to participate. Simultaneously, members of the Committee 2008 have hurried to say it was going to be an election bloc. "Cooperation with the KPRF is a captivating but tactical affair", ex-SPS leader Boris Nemtsov said. "Don't forget that the KPRF is going to mark Stalin's jubilee and approves of the 'Belarussian-style democracy'".
The left/right-wing cooperation, which is going to be sealed at the civil forum, will pass two stages, according to the committee's leadership. "First, when the authorities do not abrogate the constitution, the coalition will vote as a union in all parliaments and stage actions", Kasparov explained. "The second stage, when the constitution is quashed, intends a turn to radical actions, which I would not like to voice for the time being".
Kasparov lamented that, although "the second stage" is not yet here, the intention of the Committee 2008 to convene a congress has touched off the "exasperation" of the authorities. In his opinion, one proof is the stickers which have recently appeared in the carriages and stations of Moscow metro, the daily Novye Izvestia writes. Under the words "Participants in the Talks for Russia's Destruction", the stickers picture three representatives of the opposition - independent deputy Vladimir Ryzhkov, leader Sergei Glazyev of the left-of-centre movement For a Worthy Life, Committee 2008 co-chair Irina Khakamada - in company with disgraced oligarch Boris Berezovsky and terrorist Shamil Basaev. Ryzhkov hugs Basaev and Khakamada wears a hijab. The multitude of leaflets is an indication that it is a professional job.
Kasparov, at the sitting, did not rule out that "raising the question of Putin's resignation is a legitimate thing" at a certain stage.
The committee 2008: Free Choice was set up in January 2004. It is made up of liberal politicians, journalists and public figures. The main goal is the ensurance of an honest presidential election in 2008 with the outcome that Vladimir Putin is not elected for a third term or replaced by a stooge, the committee says.
