By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russian actor-writer Ivan Okhlobystin has announced his intention to run for the country’s presidency next year.
Okhlobystin, a well-known TV actor, said he made the decision after “much consideration”.
He is also the creative director of mobile phone company Euroset.
While it is still unclear which one of Russia’s ruling duo – President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin – will run in the March 2012 elections, communist leader Gennady Zyuganov and Liberal Democratic Party head Vladimir Zhirinovsky have both announced bids.
Tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov, the head of the Pravoye Delo party, has also hinted he may stand for the polls.
Medvedev is expected to reveal whether he will run for a second term at a regional meeting of the ruling United Russia party later this month.