Boris Titov
Titov, 57, told The Spectator he doesn’t expect to win, but he hopes to use his candidacy to press Putin for better economic policies. He’s the chairman of the pro-business Party for Growth, which aims to protect the right of Russia’s growing middle class, according to the Sputnik news agency.
As the Russian government’s presidential commissioner for entrepreneurs’ rights, Titov worked to repatriate Russian businessmen who were accused of crimes in Russia and fled to Britain to avoid prosecution. He asked Putin to allow four of 16 people on the “London list” to return after they pay “compensation” to the government. On Tuesday, he said more people have asked to be added to the list, Tass reported.
Titov said he wants government to be more efficient. He seeks to eliminate regulations and inspections that he calls unnecessary and that present opportunities for bribes. He wants an economic stimulus that involves huge government spending. Polls give Titov less than 1% of the vote.