MOSCOW, Dec 13: Russia’s scattered liberal opposition moved to unite on Saturday by setting up a new movement, Solidarity, to capitalise on growing economic discontent.

After 10 years of growth fuelled by high commodity prices, Russia’s economy has come under pressure from the global financial turmoil, prompting authorities to take steps aimed at maintaining trust in the government.

“We expect that, at the end of next year, the movement will represent a real political force,” Ilya Yashin, one of Solidarity’s leaders and a former head of the liberal Yabloko party’s youth wing, told Reuters.

“The country will be completely different at the end of 2009, and the regime will not be that strong,” he said.

Last month, Russia’s Communists said they expected the global financial crisis to cause social unrest and help them restore their political strength.—Reuters