Russian tycoon has signatures to run against Putin

Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who hopes to challenge strongman Vladimir Putin in Russia's March presidential polls, has collected the two million signatures needed by law to run, his spokeswoman said Friday. "We've collected the signatures," spokeswoman Olga Stukalova told AFP, adding that they would most likely be submitted to the Central Election Commission on Tuesday. Prokhorov's aides will aim to collect 2.1 million signatures -- the maximum allowed by law -- to be on the safe side, Stukalova added. Putin is seeking to return to the Kremlin for a third term amid the worst legitimacy crisis of his 12-year rule, and many believe Prokhorov will be running as a Kremlin-friendly candidate to soak up opposition to Putin. Prokhorov insists however he is his own man and is not afraid of his strong opponent. The Central Election Commission has in the past rejected signatures in support of anti-Kremlin candidates on various grounds. The veteran leader of the liberal opposition Yabloko party, Grigory Yavlinsky, is also collecting two million signatures to be able to run.