Mikhail Kasyanov

Mikhail Kasyanov served as Russian prime minister from 2000 to 2004. Friendly to the West and outspoken on the need for democratic reform, he was stripped of his job as then-President Vladimir Putin gradually centralized power. Since then, Kasyanov has taken up a prominent position among Russia's dwindling opposition, running for president until the Central Election Commission early this year accused him of forging signatures and banned his candidacy. The Times interviewed him this week in his office.

Mikhail Kasyanov served as Russian prime minister from 2000 to 2004. Friendly to the West and outspoken on the need for democratic reform, he was stripped of his job as then-President Vladimir Putin gradually centralized power. Since then, Kasyanov has taken up a prominent position among Russia's dwindling opposition, running for president until the Central Election Commission early this year accused him of forging signatures and banned his candidacy. The Times interviewed him this week in his office.

A young man near the front of the room, a second-year architecture student, stood up boldly. "Lenin would have had a name for the current situation in the country," he proclaimed. "It smells of revolution!" The youth scrutinized the politician in the decidedly unrevolutionary starched shirt and expensive suit. "Do you plan to lead an opposition that says the country is turning into a police state?" he asked. "Because we would support you." Former Prime Minister Mikhail M.

A young man near the front of the room, a second-year architecture student, stood up boldly. "Lenin would have had a name for the current situation in the country," he proclaimed. "It smells of revolution!" The youth scrutinized the politician in the decidedly unrevolutionary starched shirt and expensive suit. "Do you plan to lead an opposition that says the country is turning into a police state?" he asked. "Because we would support you." Former Prime Minister Mikhail M.

MOSCOW — Russia's parliament on Wednesday approved legislation intended to simplify the registration of political parties, a move influenced by massive protests after a December election widely viewed as tainted by fraud. The legislation, which outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev is expected to sign into law next week, was welcomed by those who believe it could help loosen the tight grip held by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the president-elect, and the governing United Russia party.

A list of key Russians opposing Vladimir Putin, currently prime minister and seeking a return to the presidency: Mikhail Khodorkovsky: Once Russia's richest man. His conviction on charges of financial crimes widely regarded as politically motivated. Imprisoned now more than eight years, he continues to write on political themes. Alexei Navalny: Lawyer and blogger regarded as Russia's answer to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. He has gathered incriminating material on Kremlin-controlled corporations.

President Boris N. Yeltsin has unveiled Russia's new Cabinet, giving Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin virtually the same team as his predecessor. The reappointments were largely expected, as Putin, a former KGB spy named prime minister because of his loyalty to the president, had said he expected few changes. First Deputy Prime Ministers Nikolai Y. Aksyonenko and Viktor B. Khristenko, Finance Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Defense Minister Igor D. Sergeyev and Foreign Minister Igor S.

President Boris N. Yeltsin named another batch of ministers to Russia's new Cabinet on Tuesday, including Mikhail Zadornov as first deputy prime minister in charge of the economy. Yeltsin also named Mikhail Kasyanov, chief foreign debt negotiator, as finance minister to replace Zadornov. A slew of other officials were confirmed in positions they occupied in the previous government.

Hundreds of people urged Russian authorities to find and punish the killers of journalists and human rights activists in a rally to mark the third anniversary of the killing of Anna Politkovskaya. "The authorities are incapable of solving such crimes," said Mikhail Kasyanov, an opposition leader and a former prime minister. "Even the most honest investigator cannot solve the crime because the government won't let him." Politkovskaya, an internationally known journalist, was a harsh critic of the Kremlin and exposed human-rights abuses and corruption in Chechnya.

Authorities banned the broadcast of World Cup games in public squares, and the Russian prime minister warned that riots Sunday that left two dead could cost the nation a chance to hold the 2008 European soccer championships. Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, in St. Petersburg for a summit of Baltic Sea countries, called those who carried out the violence "hooligans."

Former Prime Minister Mikhail M. Kasyanov is under investigation for fraud and abuse of office in relation to a real estate transaction, prosecutors said. Fired by President Vladimir V. Putin last year, Kasyanov has emerged as a harsh critic of his former boss and has not ruled out running in the 2008 presidential election. Putin is constitutionally barred from seeking reelection again. Kasyanov denied wrongdoing.

China's premier said that China and Russia have great potential for economic cooperation as he began talks about trade deals, including airliner sales and a proposed oil pipeline. Zhu Rongji was met at St. Petersburg's airport by Deputy Prime Minister Ilya I. Klebanov, who oversees Russia's aviation and military technology sector. The Chinese leader was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Mikhail M. Kasyanov before traveling to Moscow on Monday for talks with President Vladimir V. Putin.