Russia Political parties

Political parties in Russia show a certain orientation due to constitutional regulations and political atmosphere. United Russia, Russia's most influential and official party, was founded in 2003 and has served as the country's ruling party since 2012. United Russia is known as a centre-right and conservative party led by Vladimir Putin. Other important political parties in Russia include the Russian Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party and Yabloko. The Russian Communist Party is known as a left-leaning party with a history dating back to the Soviet era. The Liberal Democratic Party is a party founded by its leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky and has a nationalist and authoritarian political line. Yabloko, on the other hand, is known as a liberal party and is generally active in democratic reforms and human rights issues. The effectiveness and competition of political parties in Russia are often criticized with allegations that they are under the control of the government and restrictions are placed on opposition parties. United Russia's prolonged rule could limit the effectiveness of other parties and their election results. However, some opposition parties and independent candidates are successful in local elections and can gain public support. In addition to political parties, independent candidates and non-governmental organizations are also influential in the political arena in Russia. These include human rights defenders, environmental activists, trade unions and other social movements. However, pressure and restrictions in the political atmosphere may limit the effectiveness of these groups.