Russian astrologer sees political change

One of Russia's most prominent astrologers, who prides himself on seeing political events in the stars, predicted a major political change.

MOSCOW, February 12, 2010 (AFP) - One of Russia's most prominent astrologers, who prides himself on seeing political events in the stars, on Thursday predicted a major political change in the country in 2012.

"I predict calm, stability and continuity of power until 2012," Pavel Globa told journalists. "After that, Saturn will be in Scorpio, which the last four times has led to real changes."

The alignment of the stars appears to coincide with earthly plans, since Russia's next presidential elections will be held in 2012.

The question of whether Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will seek a return to the Kremlin that year is one of Russia's most hotly debated topics, but Globa remained enigmatic, saying he needed to compile detailed readings.

Putin left the presidency in 2008 at the end of his second term but is widely believed to be more powerful than his successor, President Dmitry Medvedev.

Globa, a bearded former historian, gives annual predictions of international events and boasts that he foresaw former president Boris Yeltsin's decision to resign in 1999.

He commands a large following in Russia, where many people take horoscopes seriously. Astrology became wildly popular after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union as Russians struggled to make sense of social change.

Globa also gave a dire warning for Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been Moscow's arch-foe since the 2008 Russia-Georgia war.

"On December 21, the birthday of Mikheil Saakashvili, there will be a lunar eclipse. The year that follows risks being fatal for him," he predicted.