Kasparov named other Russia presidential candidate

"I will do everything possible for the ideas of Other Russia to win. This will work only if we stay united," he said, adding the coalition stood for a "democratic and just Russia."

"I know that the road will be difficult," he was quoted by AFP as saying, referring to the group`s regular run-ins with the police and possible negotiations with other opposition leaders.

The Other Russia coalition, comprised of a variety of small groups opposed to Putin, is heavily handicapped by internal divisions and has been marginalised by the authorities.