RUSSIA | 12.12.2011 Russian tycoon launches presidential bid Prokhorov could pose a serious challenge to Putin One of Russia's richest businessmen, Mikhail Prokhorov, has announced plans to run against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in March's presidential election, following large anti-Putin protests in recent days. Mikhail Prokhorov, a Russian mining tycoon and owner of the New Jersey Nets professional basketball team in the United States, told reporters at a press conference in Moscow on Monday that he intends to challenge Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in next year's presidential election. "I have made the most serious decision of my life. I am running for president," said Prokhorov. Prokhorov's challenge follows a botched performance in the Russia's December 4 parliamentary election, in which he formed a liberal party under the tacit approval of the Kremlin, but then abandoned it after what he claimed had been political pressure from higher up. Hi...