A Just Russia — For Truth

A Just Russia — For Truth is a political party in the Russian Federation, formed in 2021 through the merger of three existing political forces. It positions itself as a Centre-left to left-wing opposition party within the State Duma, advocating for Social justice and Sovereign democracy. The party is led by longtime politician Sergey Mironov and is considered part of the Systemic opposition in Russian politics.

History

The party's formation was the culmination of a series of political mergers orchestrated within the framework of Russian party system consolidation. Its direct predecessors were the A Just Russia party, founded in 2006 from a merger of Rodina, the Russian Party of Life, and the Russian Pensioners' Party, the For Truth movement led by Zakhar Prilepin, and the Patriots of Russia party. This unification, finalized in 2021, was seen as an effort to create a consolidated left-wing flank loyal to the government and President Vladimir Putin. Earlier in its history, figures like Gennady Semigin and Nikolay Levichev played significant roles in its predecessor organizations. The merger occurred in a political climate shaped by events like the 2020 amendments to the Constitution of Russia and ahead of the 2021 Russian legislative election.

Ideology and political positions

The party officially adheres to a platform of Social democracy blended with Russian conservatism and Statism, often described as advocating for "Socialism of the 21st century" within a Russian context. Its key declared positions include strengthening Social welfare programs, supporting a Mixed economy with significant state involvement, and promoting traditional values, aligning it with concepts like Sovereign democracy. The party strongly supports the Special military operation in Ukraine and policies associated with Russian world ideology. It frequently employs Left-wing populism in its rhetoric, criticizing Oligarchs and advocating for wealth redistribution, while remaining firmly within the Pro-Putin consensus on national security and foreign policy, distinguishing it from more radical opposition groups like the Communist Party of the Russian Federation.

Electoral performance

The party competes in elections for the State Duma, Regional parliaments of Russia, and local legislatures. In the 2021 Russian legislative election, it received approximately 7.5% of the party-list vote, securing 27 seats in the 450-seat State Duma, making it the third-largest faction after United Russia and the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. Its electoral base is diffuse but finds some support among Pensioners, state employees, and voters in industrial regions. Historically, its predecessor A Just Russia performed in the 5-10% range in national elections, such as the 2016 Russian legislative election. The party's performance is managed within the broader Political technology framework of Russian politics, and it has not posed a significant electoral challenge to the dominant United Russia party.

Leadership and structure

The party is chaired by Sergey Mironov, a former Speaker of the Federation Council and perennial figurehead. Other prominent figures include Zakhar Prilepin, a national Bolshevik-leaning writer and co-chair, and Alexander Remeshlovsky who serves as Secretary of the party's Central Council. The party's structure mirrors that of other Political parties in Russia, with a Central Council and a Presidium, and maintains regional branches across the Federal subjects of Russia. Its parliamentary faction in the State Duma is led by Mironov, with deputies like Mikhail Yemelyanov and Oleg Shein being notable members. The party controls a small number of governorships, including in the Smolensk Oblast under Vasily Anokhin.

International relations and stance

The party maintains a foreign policy stance fully aligned with the official position of the Government of Russia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a vocal supporter of Russia–China relations and partnerships within organizations like the BRICS and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The party strongly endorses Russian actions in Post-Soviet states, including the recognition of Crimea and the Donetsk People's Republic as part of Russia. It has established ties with other left-wing and populist parties internationally that are sympathetic to the Russian government, such as certain factions within Die Linke in Germany and The Left in Greece, while uniformly condemning the European Union, NATO, and the foreign policies of the United States Department of State.

Category:Political parties in Russia Category:2021 establishments in Russia