The Russian Justice Ministry has restored registration of the liberal Republican Party of Russia, which will allow the party to participate in elections.

      The party’s leader and co-chairman of the unregistered opposition movement PARNAS, Vladimir Ryzhkov, told the press that the re-registration took place not under Russia’s new law on political parties, but due to a special order, in accordance with a decision of the European Court of Human Rights that ruled the refusal to register the party was unlawful.

      The politician promised to make a renewal among the party's members and to publish a new political program. He also invited his political comrades - Mikhail Kasyanov and Boris Nemtsov - to continue cooperation within the Republican Party framework.

      The Republican Party of Russia was created in 1990 and always positioned itself as a liberal force. Over the years, the Republican Party had MPs in the Lower House but never in considerable numbers. In 2007 the party was banned by the Supreme Court, as it did not match newly adopted stricter rules for political organizations.

      Now there are eight political parties in Russia, including the Republicans, but this number can change soon, as 171 more have applied for registration with the Justice Ministry in compliance with a new law on political parties' registration. 

Sources: RIA Novosti RT Lenta.ru Image: wikipedia