MOSCOW , Russia ( CNN ) -- Garry Kasparov has defeated the world 's greatest chess players and battled a supercomputer for supremacy . Now , he 's facing his toughest opponent , but trying to check the power of Russian President Vladimir Putin has n't been easy . Garry Kasparov , right , says Vladimir Putin 's regime is at a `` dangerous phase '' of turning into a dictatorship . Intensely sharp , the energetic 44-year-old Kasparov , whose political opposition party has been the most vocal against Putin 's Kremlin , can hardly suppress his fury with the country 's leadership . Jailed for five days before Sunday 's parliamentary elections , the brooding grandmaster has spent long hours plotting his moves and countermoves . `` This regime is entering a very dangerous phase that is turning it into a dictatorship , '' he told journalists as he arrived at his Moscow apartment shortly after his release on Thursday . He said he had been denied access to a lawyer since his arrest at a banned anti-government protest that he organized in Moscow last weekend , but that his commitment to opposing Putin remained strong . `` I 'm undeterred in my resolution to fight this regime , '' he said . Watch Kasparov wo n't be a pawn » . Maxim Mishchenko , a Putin youth leader , is equally undeterred . The 30-year-old leader of a group called `` Young Russia '' -- one of many organizations that have sprouted up in support of Putin -- is ardent in his defense of the Kremlin 's path . Terms like dictatorship , autocracy and undemocratic make no sense when applied to Russia , he says . `` It is complete nonsense . These accusations are part of the hysteria , which is fueled against our country , '' he said . Sunday 's parliamentary elections are expected to reinforce the hold on power of Putin 's United Russia Party , although it 's not clear what role Putin may have in the regime when his presidential term expires next year . Mishchenko accuses what he calls enemies of Russia of plotting to keep his country weak . `` It does n't suit certain forces inside and outside Russia to have stability inside of Russia . Therefore , these forces are attempting to shake the situation from inside , '' he said . `` We have seen how it was done in Ukraine and in Georgia , when a minority with the use of political technologies has captured power , '' Mishchenko says , referring to the pro-Western revolutions that took place in the two former Soviet republics in recent years . Kasparov dismisses claims of a U.S.-backed conspiracy funding the opposition movement he has galvanized . Intellectually , he says , the Russian leader is no match . `` I think Putin is a KGB officer , and he is an expert on judo , and he relies only on brute force , '' Kasparov says . `` He is used to playing with an overwhelming advantage and now he 's still ahead , but his position is getting worse while we are gaining the momentum . '' Putin has been fortunate , he says , to have such high oil prices supporting his regime . Fortunate , not clever . `` He is a lucky president , or a lucky dictator , but that tells us nothing about his ability to play on a level playing field . He was never a part of a public debate , his regime does not know how to deal with a public protest . They do n't understand the nature of compromise , '' he said . `` And the only way to make sure the Russian government reflects the views of the Russian people is to learn how to get compromise and create a broad coalition . '' But it is precisely Putin 's uncompromising stance on a range of issues -- like energy supply to European nations -- that Mishchenko says makes the Russian leader so popular in his country . `` People link their hopes for revival of Russia as a superpower with Putin , '' Mishchenko said . `` Putin has stood up against those wishing that Russia dies as a nation . He gave to Russia the right for revival and he works for saving Russia as a culture and as a nation . '' But while Russia 's economy -- fueled by high prices for gas and oil -- is booming , and the country is resurgent on the international stage , it is still a nation ravaged by problems . On this , even Kasparov and Mishchenko agree . `` I will work on improving Russian roads , for example , to complete a road from Central Russia to Chita , in the Russian Far East , '' says Mishchenko of his political ambition . `` I think I will also work on improving social conditions for young families , tackling the problem of access to kindergartens . '' Kasparov sees the wide wealth gap as the major political problem facing his nation . `` People ask me this question time and again : 'Why , Mr. Kasparov , tell us , there 's so much money in the country , but nothing in our pockets ? ' '' Kasparov said . `` I think people are slowly beginning to understand there is a connection -- a mystical connection for Russians -- between high living standards and political freedom . '' E-mail to a friend .
Kasparov : `` This regime is entering a very dangerous phase '' The chess grandmaster has become Russia 's leading opposition figure . A Putin youth leader says accusations against Russian leader are `` nonsense '' Parliamentary elections to be held Sunday .