Medvedchuk elected to For Life party leadership

Viktor Medvedchuk, a confidante to Russian President Putin,
was elected on Nov. 4 the political council head of the Russian-oriented For
Life party. He replaces Yevgeny Murayev, who announced the launch of a radical
pro-Kremlin party, Nashi, after For Life Party Head Vadim Rabinovich announced
his plans in September to merge his party with the Russian-oriented Opposition
Bloc. Medvedchuk indirectly controls the 112 television network, according to
news reports, while Murayev indirectly controls the NewsOne television network.
Putin is godfather to Medvedchuk’s daughter.

Zenon Zawada: What’s
interesting is Medvedchuk has chosen to work with the centrist,
Russian-oriented forces rather than the radical force led by Murayev. We
believe this is a deliberate strategy for the Kremlin, through Medvedchuk, to
be able to influence the Russian-oriented forces who are certain to qualify for
parliament. Meanwhile, Murayev chose to lead the riskier, more radical
political project, quite possibly in a strategy in coordination with Medvedchuk
and the Kremlin.

As a result of Murayev’s launch of the Nashi party,
the For Life party has begun to lose support among the public, according to
recent polls. Nonetheless, Rabinovich and Medvedchuk should be able to
negotiate several places in the electoral list of the main Russian-oriented
party for themselves and their close entourage.

It’s still unclear whether the centrist
Russian-oriented forces will be able to approach the elections as one party, or
will split into two forces. It’s still unclear how the new Russian-oriented party
will brand itself, though it’s already apparent its main themes will be urgent
peace in Donbas, renewing relations with Russia and defending Russian culture
in Ukraine.