Putin says opposition protesters are uncharismatic 'zeroes'

Moscow, April 24 (ANI): Russian Prime Minister Valdimir Putin sees little scope for cooperation from opposition leaders as he believes they lack ideas and describes many of them as uncharismatic 'zeroes'.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there is little hope that Putin would include ministers of the opposition in his cabinet when a reshuffling takes place in the near future.

According to The Telegraph, Putin will reshuffle the government after he takes office, but has not said who will serve under Prime Minister-designate Dmitry Medvedev, the ally with whom he is swapping jobs.

"It is difficult to hold dialogue with people who have an unconstructive position and proceed from the principle of nihilism," Peskov said.

He said Putin was aware of the changes in society since the start of rallies mostly involving the middle-class in big cities over alleged electoral fraud, but did not say whether or how this might affect policy.

Boris Nemtsov, a liberal politician who helped organise the protests that were initially sparked by public anger over alleged electoral fraud, dismissed Peskov's criticisms.

Nemtsov said the opposition has demanded the abolition of political censorship, registration of opposition parties, permission for genuine opposition leaders to run for president, fair elections, the free election of governors and mayors, an independent judiciary, reform of the security services and the release of people they consider political prisoners.

Putin has offered some concessions, such as pushing through parliament a law easing rules on the registration of political parties and restoring the election of governors. However, the opposition has dismissed these token changes. (ANI)