Maria Gaidar calls on Russian opposition to consolidate

Maria Gaidar, a Russian public figure and a daughter of the first prime minister of Russia Yegor Gaidar, has called for the consolidation of the Russian opposition.

In an interview with Ekho Moskvy today, Ms. Gaidar said that she appreciated the idea of an election of a so-called Coordination Council of the Russian Opposition.

The idea is supported by several Russian political forces and opposition leaders, including Alexey Navalny, a prominent blogger and founder of the Rospil website devoted to corruption among Russian officials.

Ms. Gaidar told Ekho Moskvy she herself won't run for membership in the Council. "I've been studying in the United States for a year, I don't think I have a moral right to enter the Council," she said.