Sholban Kara-ool, 36 will Compete with Sherig-ool Oorzhak, 60 for the Highest Post in the Republic

The council of the "Yedinstwo" (Unity) party has defined its candidate for the Prime-Minister elections which will take place in Tuva March 17, 2002. According to the new constitution of Tuva the Presidential post in Tuva is substituted by the Head of the Government. The main candidate of "Yedinstwo" (one of the most numerous parties in Russia) will be Sholban Kara-ool. Among other probable runners for the post Vladimir Seryakov, deputy head of the Khanty-Mansy region's epesentative office in Moscow (ex-prime-minister of the Tuvan Autonomous Republic - 1988-1991), Mikhail Kozlov, deputy chief of the Council of Federation's Apparatus (ex deputy head of the Tuvan Parliament - 1992-1997), Vyacheslav Darzhaa, the head of the Court's Department in Tuva. Sherig-ool Oorzhak, as his press-group informed, has also the right to take part in the election. The new consitution has no limitation as to the third presidential term of the head of the republic.