Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov put forward as presidential candidate

(15 Dec 2011)
1. Wide of billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov addressing his supporters who have nominated him to run for the Russian presidency
2. Cutaway of media
3. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail Prokhorov, Russian presidential candidate:
"I have also understood that it is very important to be able to recognise one's own mistakes and turn defeat into victory."
4. Wide of supporters
5. Mid supporters and a cameraman
6. Wide Prokhorov
7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail Prokhorov, Russian presidential candidate:
"Vladimir Putin is my rival. I would like to compare the situation to sports. When you compete against a stronger adversary, you yourself grow faster. That is why I'm not afraid of anyone and I always liked to compete against strong adversaries in sports and in life. Politics is no exception."
8. Cutaway of media
9. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Mikhail Prokhorov, Russian presidential candidate:
(Question: what will be your first decree if elected president?)
"I will make a humanitarian decision and pardon Khodorkovsky."
10. Mid of journalists
11. Mid of Prokhorov leaving venue
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Lyubimov, Director of RBC Television Network:
"I think he is probably the only guy of those who are independent in Russia. With his equity of about 20 (b) billion dollars, he is independent, you cannot buy him."
13. Wide of supporters seated at venue
STORYLINE:
The Russian billionaire who plans to challenge Vladimir Putin in Russia's presidential election said on Thursday that his first move if elected would be to pardon jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, has been in jail since 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges seen as a punishment for defying Putin's power.
Prokhorov, estimated to be worth 18 (b) billion U.S. dollars, made his fortune in metals, banking and media.
He also owns 80 percent of the New Jersey Nets basketball team in the United States.
Speaking at a meeting with supporters who nominated him for the race, Prokhorov said he wasn't afraid to challenge Putin's power.
"Vladimir Putin is my rival. I would like to compare the situation to sports. When you compete against a stronger adversary, you yourself grow faster," said Prokhorov.
Prokhorov's presidential bid follows his botched performance before the parliamentary election when he formed a liberal political party with the Kremlin's tacit support but abandoned it under what he called Kremlin pressure.
Some observers alleged that Prokhorov may have made amends with the Kremlin and might be running for president to accommodate voters unhappy with the authorities to steal the thunder from the opposition.
Amongst his supporters was Television chief Alexander Lyubimov who said that his equity makes Prokhorov his own man.
"He is independent, you cannot buy him," said Lyubimov.
However many critics still accuse Prokhorov of being a Kremlin stooge.

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