KASYANOV, MIKHAIL MIKHAILOVICH

(1957– )

After serving inBoris Yeltsin’s administration, Mikhail Kasyanov became prime minister of the Russian Federation in May 2000 underVladimir Putin. During his tenure, he supported fiscal reforms, a reorganization of the pension system, and modernization of the country’s infrastructure. He also supportedYukosplans to develop anoilpipeline to the Pacific Ocean viaChina, a route that was unpopular among Putin loyalists. Putin dismissed Kasyanov and his entire cabinet on 24 February 2004, signaling a trend toward a nationalistic and conservative approach to governance.A year later, Kasyanov declared his intention to run in the next presidential elections, a bid supported by certainoligarchsand anti-Kremlin figures such asGarry Kasparov. Kasyanov established the People’s Democratic Union as a vehicle for his political ambitions; the group also joinedThe Other Russiacoalition. Kasyanov’s criticism of Putin’svertical of powersoon triggered investigations of possible pastcorruption, and he was regularly lambasted in the popularmedia. His hopes to challengeDmitry Medvyedevin the 2008 presidential race were derailed when a percentage of the signatures he obtained were declared invalid by the Central Election Commission.

See alsoPolitics.