ALMA-ATA, Dec. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia's State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov on Wednesday criticized the measures taken by Ukraine's opposition, saying it was exerting pressure on the Ukrainian government.

    "Whatever is happening right now, on the part of the opposition,is obviously an attempt to exert pressure by force," said Gryzlov during a visit to the Kazakh capital of Astana.

    Last week, Ukraine's Supreme Court annulled the presidential election that pitted Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich against opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, citing widespread fraud, and ordered a new run-off vote.

    "The post-election process in Ukraine is outside the law -- a formula based on political expediency," Gryzlov told journalists.

    Gryzlov has been Russia's representative in talks in Kiev.

    "The Supreme Court did not have the right to evaluate the election and to do such a thing as order a second round," he said.

    After meeting Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, he said the two sides think the political crisis in Ukraine will not influence the ex-Soviet nations' integration process within the framework of a united economy.

    Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine are planning closer cooperation for a united economy. Enditem