KHARKIV, Feb. 24 - Kharkiv region Governor Mikhail Dobkin has decided to run for the Ukrainian presidency in May.

"Given the fact that the rights of Russian speaking people are suppressed, laws that pose a threat to those who do not take fascism and nationalism are adopted today and proceeding from the fact that one calls to destroy without trial many people who have view that differ from the opinion of the authorities, I made a decision to run for the presidency at the next election," Dobkin told journalists in Kharkiv on Monday.

"This is a final decision," he said.

Dobkin, however, did not specify whether he will run for the presidency as an independent candidate or from the Party of Regions party.