 "Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with heads of Russian oil companies at the Kremlin in Moscow")
Top Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky condemned Vladimir Putin's "scorched earth politics" on Thursday as he presented the candidates he is backing for parliamentary elections in Russia later this year.
Ex-tycoon Khodorkovsky, who spent a decade in jail after challenging Putin, openly stated his political ambitions in 2014 by announcing he would be ready, if called upon, to lead Russia in times of crisis.
Khodorkovsky, who lives in self-imposed exile in Europe, is fielding two dozen candidates in Russia's parliamentary elections to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, and the Saint Petersburg Legislative Assembly in September through his Open Russia foundation.
"I'm very glad that in our country despite the scorched earth politics carried out by the authorities we have found young able politically active people who are ready to prove themselves as candidates for the State Duma," Khodorkovsky said by video link from London.
"Our project does not end with the September 18 elections. A considerable number of people here in the future definitely— if they are consistent— will come to power, I have no doubt of this," he added.
"And whether it is in these elections or later— in my view— is much less important. They are the face of Russia's future and having known these people some time I can say I like this face much more than the one I see usually on television screens," he said.
Russia will hold parliamentary elections in September amid a prolonged economic crisis due in part to the fall in oil prices and Western sanctions over the Kremlin's role in Ukraine.
A presidential election is scheduled for 2018 and many expect Putin to seek re-election.
Young liberal Russians say they know elections will be rigged but hope support from Khodorkovsky's foundation will help creating a new generation of politicians.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, coordinator for Open Russia, said that people often complain of a lack of alternative in elections, adding the project was "a step towards creating that alternative"
"It's a possibility for candidates to gain political experience."
Open Russia backs 19 candidates for elections to the State Duma and five more candidates for polls to the Saint Petersburg Assembly.
Among the candidates are 32-year-old Maria Baronova who participated in protests against Putin and disabled cycling champion Yaroslav Svyatoslavsky, 23.
