Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov would be a worthy and serious rival to him in the March 4 presidential elections.
"I'm sure he will be a worthy, serious rival," Putin said during his live Q&A session. "I won't say I wish him success because I'm putting forward my candidacy, too."
The statement echoes a similar remark made by Prokhorov several hours earlier. "Putin is a serious rival, but I'm not afraid of competition," the Russian billionaire said.
Prokhorov, a 46-year-old bachelor, Russia's third richest man and the owner of the U.S. NBA New Jersey Nets basketball team, declared his intention to stand for the Russian presidency earlier this week. He said it was "the most serious decision" of his life.
He headed the pro-business Right Cause party for four months before being ousted in September, something he blamed on Kremlin strategist Vladislav Surkov.
