‘Extremist’ author files Russian presidential papers
November 29th, 2011 - 10:55 am ICT by IANSMoscow, Nov 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A Russian man who claims to heal people over phone and whose book is on the government list of extremist materials was the first to submit his nomination papers for the next Russian president.
Nikolai Levashov is the author of “Russia in Distorting Mirrors”, which is banned for its negative depiction of Jews and for inciting religious hatred, according to the Kommersant business daily.
Levashov, however, needs to collect two million signatures if he is to be registered as a candidate, said Nikolai Konkin, secretary of the Central Election Commission.
Levashov calls himself an academic and a healer.
He has posted scans of diplomas from “obscure” institutions and academies on his website that includes the Academy of Sciences of Integrated Security, the International Academy of Family Medicine, International Academy of Information and International Academy of Energy Sciences.
He also claims on his website that he can cure many diseases over phone.
The presidential polls are scheduled to take place March 4, 2012.
The ruling United Russia party nominated Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as its presidential candidate. Incumbent President Dmitry Medvedev supports this bid.
Communists have said they would nominate the party’s leader Gennady Zyuganov as their presidential candidate.
Candidates nominated by registered political parties do not need to collect signatures to be registered.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
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