A Parliament of Poets, Pop Stars and Priests

At the ballot box, Russians will choose from a bizarre array of big-name and no-name candidates

As campaign songs go, these lyrics would be, to say the least, original: "Everything has been confused and intertwined." "In our house there are remains from the rotten truth." Nevertheless, Oleg Gazmanov, 42, hopes to woo Russian voters with his soulful music. The hip-swiveling pop star is running for parliament next month on the Russian Democratic Reform Movement ticket and believes his sexy image and chart-topping hits will attract "ordinary people" who otherwise might not vote. "I sing in order to unite people," he says. "I see it as my civic duty to be a candidate."

So do a long list...

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