Mikhail Prokhorov announces plans to take on Vladimir Putin in Russian presidential election He spent several days in jail but was later cleared of all charges. Poses threat to Putin's campaign - whose authority has been dented by fraud allegations Share or comment on this article In another blow, at least one regional governor quit in protest over the handling of the elections. Protesters: Demonstrators rally against election fraud at the Bolotnaya Square in Moscow Prokhorov, the 46 year old owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, declared he would run as Putin slapped down a fresh parliamentary poll, the key demand of tens of thousands of protesters who took to the streets across Russia at the weekend. He said he had been working quietly and calmly building the infrastructure that I need to collect the 2.5 million signatures" to register in the race.

The tycoon said at the time: 'In this country there is a puppet master who long ago privatised the political system, who has long misinformed the Russian leadership about what is going on in the political system, puts pressure on the media, and tries to manipulate citizens' opinions. I am going in with my head held high and am not afraid.' Billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov - his country's most eligible bachelor - could present a real threat to the strongman premier if he can enlist the support of voters furious over ballot rigging claims in last week's parliamentary elections. But the strongman faced more problems yesterday as his former trusted finance minister Alexei Kudrin threatened to set up a new right-of-centre political party - and to campaign against Putin. 'We have a parliament that is completely leftist,' he said, vowing to build his programme "on a complete lack of populism" and call for reforms that would strengthen Russia's middle class. Yesterday he said he had decided to become Surkov's boss by beating Putin and becoming president. 'I have made the most serious decision in my life. Vladimir Putin is to be challenged by one of Russia's richest tycoons in the Kremlin presidential election scheduled for March. This came yesterday as the Kremlin's pollster abruptly stopped issuing figures for politicians' ratings, amid suspicions that Putin's showing has suddenly slumped. Putin aide Dmitry Peskov claimed that the fraud allegations touch less than one per cent of the vote so " it will in no way affect the legitimacy of the election". His big cash windfall came in selling the world's largest nickel mine in Norilsk. Anti Putin: A demonstrator holds a poster showing a manipulated photograph of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and bearing the words, 'No! 2050' 'It is not in my nature to stop halfway,' he said. Prokhorov - like most business figures - used to be reluctant to cross Putin. 'I am not doing anything illegal. I am running for president.' 'Society is waking up,' said the 6ft 8 inch businessman worth 11.5 billion of dramatic people power protests led by the disillusioned middle classes.

Bid for presidency: Mikhail Prokhorov (pictured) has declared he will run against Putin in the election Loading video... See the man prepared to take on Putin http://links.ezinemark.com/view/mikhail-prokhorov-announces-plans-to-take-on-vladimir-putin-in-russ ian-presidential-election-56d13a2ffff.html Fraud allegations: Russian PM Vladimir Putin's authority has been dented

Map locating cities across Russia where protesters demanded end to Vladimir Putin's rule By Jessica Satherley

Detailed charts of Russia's parliamentary election results But he is furious after his bid to set up a political party Right Cause several months ago ended in failure after it was blocked by Putin crony Vladislav Surkov. The one-time street jeans-seller backed many of the anti-Putin slogans voiced at the demonstrations, he said.

Mikhail Prokhorov declared he will run in the March presidential election Updated: 00:21 GMT, 13 December 2011 Often seen with attractive women, Prokhorov was arrested at a French ski resort in 2007 on suspicion of making prostitutes available to guests. This puppet master is named Vladislav Surkov.' Tycoon: Mikhail Prokhorov is the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team (pictured playing against the Toronto Raptors) And the Public Opinion Foundation - one of Russia's main pollsters - abruptly stopped issuing ratings for politicians. Asked if he feared the fate of the last billionaire to challenge Putin - Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was jailed on corruption charges - he said: 'We continue to conduct surveys on a weekly basis, but the results are not being released to the public,' amid claims it is due to a further slide in Putin's ratings, already down from 80 per cent to just over 50 per cent.