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| Communists of Russia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Communists of Russia |
| Native name | Коммунисты России |
| Leader | Maxim Suraykin |
| Founder | Sergei Malinkovich |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Moscow |
| Position | Left-wing |
| Colors | Red |
| Country | Russia |
Communists of Russia is a political party in the Russian Federation founded in 2009 as a left-wing alternative to older socialist formations. The party positions itself as a Marxist–Leninist organization advocating nationalization, social welfare, and opposition to liberal market reforms while competing with Communist Party of the Russian Federation for votes and members. It has been active in regional elections, party congresses, and public demonstrations, drawing scrutiny from both supporters and critics within Russian political circles.
The party traces its roots to organizations formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, emerging during the 2000s amid disputes within the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and splinters from groups linked to the International Communist movement. Key moments include its registration as a political party in 2009, electoral campaigns in the 2010s, and high-profile congresses in Moscow and regional centers such as Saint Petersburg and Novosibirsk. Founders and early leaders engaged with veterans of the Great Patriotic War heritage organizations and youth wings that had links to movements inspired by leaders like Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and revolutionary traditions from the 1917 Russian Revolution. The party’s establishment coincided with a broader reconfiguration of leftist politics in post-Soviet space involving actors from Belarus, Ukraine, and the wider Eurasian Economic Union area.
The party espouses a platform rooted in Marxist–Leninist rhetoric, calling for nationalization of strategic industries such as those in Gazprom, Rosneft, and parts of the Russian Railways sector, while advocating for expansion of social guarantees linked to institutions like the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Its program references historical texts associated with Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin, while sometimes invoking the legacy of Joseph Stalin and Soviet-era symbols. Policy proposals often target privatization policies tied to the 1990s under figures like Boris Yeltsin and economic reforms associated with Yegor Gaidar and Anatoly Chubais. The party promotes labor rights in coordination with trade unions such as the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia and proposes measures affecting enterprises formerly part of the Soviet Union industrial complex.
Formal leadership has included chairpersons and secretaries who operate from the party headquarters in Moscow, holding congresses and plenums with delegates from oblast-level committees in regions like Moscow Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, and Perm Krai. Key figures associated with the party have appeared alongside personalities from related movements and organizations, interacting with politicians from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and activists from groups such as the Left Front (Russia). Internal structure comprises a central committee, regional branches, youth wings, and an ideological commission that cites theorists including Rosa Luxemburg and Leon Trotsky in debate, despite criticisms from Trotskyist organizations like the International Marxist Tendency. Leadership disputes have led to legal contests resolved in courts such as the Supreme Court of Russia and overseen by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation regarding registration and party media.
Electoral campaigns saw the party contesting seats in the State Duma elections, regional legislative assemblies, and municipal councils in cities including Yekaterinburg and Krasnoyarsk. Vote shares have varied, with stronger showings in some regional ballots but limited success in nationwide contests for the State Duma and gubernatorial races against candidates from parties like United Russia and A Just Russia. The party has at times formed electoral blocs and cooperated with organizations linked to veterans of the Soviet Armed Forces and social movements critical of neoliberal reforms. Campaign tactics have referenced historical anniversaries like the October Revolution and public holidays such as Victory Day (Russia) for mobilization.
The party has faced controversies over alleged imitation of symbols and names that critics say confuse voters vis-à-vis the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, prompting disputes in media outlets such as Kommersant and Izvestia. Accusations include tactical nomination of candidates to split the leftist vote, contested membership rolls, and clashes with established trade union leaders. Some political scientists and commentators at institutions such as the Higher School of Economics and the Russian Academy of Sciences have questioned the party’s independence, citing links to regional power brokers and alleged coordination with actors from United Russia. International observers and rival leftist groups have criticized the party’s stance on issues related to Crimea and operations in Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, which has provoked debate among socialist activists across Europe and Asia.
The party maintains contacts with communist and socialist organizations abroad, engaging with delegations from parties such as the Communist Party of China, the Communist Party of Cuba, and several parties part of the International Communist Seminar. It has participated in international conferences that include representatives from the Socialist International spectrum and has exchanged delegations with parties from Belarus and Venezuela. Relations with European leftist currents, including parties in Greece, Portugal, and Spain, have been uneven, reflecting divisions over positions on regional conflicts and economic policy. The party’s international outreach often references historical solidarity ties dating to the Comintern era and the broader 20th-century communist movement.
Category:Political parties in Russia