Davidis: prosecution of Kuzmin, ex-Mayor of Stavropol, is politically motivated

In the opinion of Moscow electoral expert Sergey Davidis, the prosecution of former Mayor of Stavropol Dmitri Kuzmin, who has applied for political asylum in one of European countries, has political character and is connected with the victory of the Party "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" (Fair Russia), which was headed by Kuzmin, at elections to the Territorial Parliament in March 2007.

"Basically, this is Dmitri Kuzmin's lawful demand, since all the problems of his relations with the authorities stem not from the criminal case opened against him but from the political prosecution of ex-mayor of Stavropol by federal authorities," Mr Davidis said in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Sergey Davidis has reminded the situation in the Stavropol Territory after March 11, 2007. Then, the outcomes of parliamentary elections in the Territory "proved to be sensational". The "Spravedlivaya Rossiya" Party, headed by Stavropol Mayor Dmitri Kuzmin gained a "shattering and absolute victory" over the party in power "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) then headed by the Governor of the Territory Alexander Chernogorov, "weak from the political viewpoint."

Mr Davidis has explained: "Kuzmin's problem grows from the fact that he himself and his retinue have taken the pseudo-democratic provisions seriously."

"The reaction of the federal centre was quick," said the Moscow expert and reminded that the Investigatory Committee at the Prosecutor's Office of Russia had presented charges to Dmitri Kuzmin under three articles of the Criminal Code.

Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" has reported that former Stavropol Mayor Dmitri Kuzmin, who is in international search and was detained in Austria, had applied for political asylum in one of the countries of Europe.