Orthodox cleric could add spice to Russia's presidential election

September 07, 2011

An Orthodox priest, suspended from ministry at his own request, has announced his candidacy in Russia’s presidential race, which will be decided next year.

Father Ioann Okhlobystin will run as an independent, and has indicated that he hopes for support from the Orthodox Church, but the Moscow patriarchate has kept its distance from the popular but erratic cleric.

Russia’s current leaders, President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, have not yet announced their plans for next year’s presidential race.

 

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Further information:

• A former Orthodox priest among challengers to Putin and Medvedev for the Kremlin (AsiaNews)