Kremlin-linked party calls for pro-Russian forces to unite for elections

Vadim Rabinovich, the head of the For Life party that has
links to the Kremlin, issued a Sept. 12 statement calling for Ukraine’s
“healthy political forces” to unite ahead of the elections. He specifically
referred to the Opposition Bloc, which is the successor to the Party of Regions
and largely unites Ukraine’s Russian-oriented businessmen and workers. “I
propose turning the page and beginning talks on creating a powerful
consolidated political unification that is capable of halting military actions
in Donbas, preventing economic catastrophe and rescuing the country,”
Rabinovich said on his Facebook page.

In response to Rabinovich’s proposal, Serhiy
Lyovochkin – among the leaders of the Opposition Bloc and presidential
administration chair under former President Yanukovych – said that he supports
unification of parties that share his party’s values. He specifically referred
to the For Life party led by Rabinovich. “In this difficult time for the
country, it’s necessary to cast aside ambitions and stop conflicts,” Lyovochkin
wrote in his Facebook page. “Only in uniting all opposition forces can we
return to Ukraine peace, stability, and development. We will create conditions
for Ukrainians to live civilized again.”

Zenon Zawada: Both of
these statements are only partly serious, and mostly posturing for the public.
The For Life party has positioned itself as the more radical pro-Russian force,
inviting Putin confidante Viktor Medvedchuk into its ranks. So the party stands
to lose some of its electorate if it unites with the more moderate Opposition
Bloc, which claims to support Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration. On the other
hand, the For Life party rejects NATO integration, which appeals to a small but
sizable chunk of the Ukrainian electorate.

Likewise, in contemplating a merger, the Opposition
Bloc leadership would have to decide whether it wants For Life’s Kremlin
association, including the indirect Kremlin ties of Yevgeny Murayev, another
For Life leader. We don’t believe a merger will happen and we believe that the
results of these two parties will be stronger if they compete separately, with
their distinct political platforms.