Russian opposition leader drops out

MOSCOW, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Opposition leader Boris Nemstov said he would forgo his bid for the Russian presidency and urged other foes of the Kremlin-backed candidate to do the same.

Boris Nemstov, the leader of the opposition Union of Right Forces, said Wednesday anyone trying to run would just be endorsing a "farcical" election.

Nemstov said his decision to withdraw resulted from his party's failure to field a single candidate or win seats in the Dec. 2 State Duma elections, the Moscow Times reported Thursday.

The withdrawal leaves only one candidate, former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov of the Russian People's Democratic Union, opposing Kremlin-backed candidate and First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Medvedev is heavily favored. One recent poll projected he would get 79 percent of the vote.

Nemstov's decision came just nine days after the Union of Right Forces, or SPS, nominated him. and six days after he officially entered the campaign.