The Kremlin Backs New Opposition Party

Three Russian political parties announced that they formed a coalition with each other in order to fight Vladmir Putin's governing party. The Party of Life, the Pensioner's Party and the Rodina (Motherland) Party joined hands in opposition to the governing United Russia Party. The Party of Life's leader, Sergei Mironov, a known Putin ally, spoke saying that this "political union will change fundamentally the political map of Russia." The Pensioner's Party and Rodina Party are also known to have links to Vladmir Putin's Kremlin.
Vladislav Surkov, the Kremlin deputy chief of staff, floated the idea of the coalition in March. The idea of this coalition is to become United Russia's opposition from the Left.