Russian opposition activist granted British asylum

The leader of a Russian youth opposition group has been granted political asylum by Britain, the group said.

Andrei Sidelnikov, the head of "Pora!", or "It's time!", applied for asylum in December 2007 in London after Russia's security services tried to prevent him travelling abroad, giving no reason, the group said.

"We consider it (granting of asylum) as recognition of the fact that Russia today has become an undemocratic country, where the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens are being violated," the group said late on Friday on its Web site www.rupora.ru.

The Home Office could not be reached for comment.

"Pora!" is one of several youth opposition groups that have formed across the former Soviet Union over recent years.

Modelled on its Ukrainian counterpart of the same name, "Pora!" wants a bloodless revolution in Russia similar to Ukraine's liberal Orange Revolution in 2004. There has been no sign, however, of any similar mass support in Russia.

"We believe the international community realises that the so-called elections for a new Russian president serve as a cover-up for maintaining (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin's power," the group said.

Russia's shrunken political opposition lost representation in parliament throughout Putin's eight-year reign as president, which came to an end in May, and registers little support in opinion polls.