The businessman put his name forward for the forthcoming election in May, the Lithuanian consulate in London told the BBC.

But doubts have been raised over whether the Edinburgh club's chief will be able to stand as he was born in Russia, not Lithuania.

Charlie Mann, the former spokesman for Romanov, said: "The story we have got from Lithuania is that he has submitted his papers."

He went on: "From my memory, he's certainly had political aspirations, but I do not know if he's a member of a party.

"It's not a shock."

The former Soviet submariner took over at Tynecastle in 2005 and has proved a controversial figure.

He has sacked a succession of managers and popular players.

He also controls the Lithuanian club FBK Kaunas and the Belarusian Premier League side FC MTZ-RIPO.

He is chairman of UBIG Investments, which is the majority shareholder in Hearts.

Romanov's main business interest is a substantial stake in the Lithuanian bank Ukio bankas.

He is a already a popular figure in Lithuania - in 2007, he won TV show Dancing with the Stars, a Lithuanian version of Strictly Come Dancing.