Parties in the Russian Political Context

What Has Changed?

Author(s): Igor Rabinovich
Editor(s): Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 19
Pages: 18-19
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen
Publication Year: 2007

The authorities are using changes in the electoral laws to eliminate opposition parties. Since regional leaders control most local elections, they are able to exert extensive control over the party branches operating on their territories. The result is that parties must either be co-opted into the system or be marginalized. There are two ways to evaluate the changes in the situation of political parties in Russia: first is the parties' freedom for creation, existence, and activity; second is the guarantee for honest, open, and just political competition, including in elections.

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