Russia's Abramovich seeks election in Arctic region

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has decided to run for election to the local council of a desolate Arctic region just weeks after resigning as governor. Abramovich, the 41-year-old owner of Britain's Chelsea soccer club, quit as governor of Far Eastern region of Chukotka earlier this month after lavishing millions on the impoverished province, where reindeer herding is the main source of income. But locals in the icy expanses near to Alaska have implored Abramovich not to abandon them with the current council speaker even stepping aside to make way for him. Abramovich told council members on Thursday he had accepted their proposal to run, Chukotka's local administration said in a statement. "He has accepted a request by the people of Chukotka to run for the regional Duma," said... [read full story]