Ukrainian boxing champion and opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko says he will challenge Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in the country's next presidential election scheduled for 2015.
The 42-year-old heavyweight boxing world champion made the announcement in parliament Thursday shortly after the ruling party assembly passed legislation making it difficult for him to run because he has permanent residency status in Germany.
Klitschko said he would not be stopped by "various rumors and attempts" to end his potential candidacy.
Klitschko was elected to parliament in 2012 as the head of his anti-corruption party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform, whose acronym, Udar, means "punch" in Ukrainian.
The 42-year-old heavyweight boxing world champion made the announcement in parliament Thursday shortly after the ruling party assembly passed legislation making it difficult for him to run because he has permanent residency status in Germany.
Klitschko said he would not be stopped by "various rumors and attempts" to end his potential candidacy.
Klitschko was elected to parliament in 2012 as the head of his anti-corruption party Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform, whose acronym, Udar, means "punch" in Ukrainian.