Epress.am News from Armenia
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is due to meet some of the heads of Russia’s opposition protest movement, RFE/RL reports.
The Feb. 20 meeting comes less than two weeks before Russia’s Mar. 4 presidential election, which is widely expected to result in Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s reelection.
Medvedev, who agreed to stand aside after serving one term so Putin could pursue a return to the presidency, is expected to meet with opposition leaders including leftist radical Sergei Udaltsov and veteran liberal and former government minister Boris Nemtsov.
Reports say the activists are expected to push demands for political change in the wake of the Dec. 4 parliamentary elections.
The vote was won by Putin’s ruling party, but is seen by the opposition as having been marred by widespread fraud.