MOSCOW, March 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian...

Respected daily Kommersant reported that this is the first time a large business has openly financed the event.

"Probably, Mikhail Prokhorov has received an offer from Kremlin that he could not refuse," opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was quoted as saying by the paper, which also said that both two were close friends.

Mihkail Rogachev, executive director of Onexim Group, said that the group will invest some 45 million rubles ($1.54 million) into the organization of educational programs during the forum, adding that he expects other companies due to participate in the project to finance it.

"But if no one wants to, we will pay for everything," Rogachev continued.

The annual forum has taken place on Seliger Lake since 2005. Last year, when the organizer of the forum became the Federal Youth Affairs Agency Rosmolodezh instead of the pro-Kremlin"s Nashi movement, the event has received state status and can expect financing from a state budget. Last year, a

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