RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – April 7, 2008
Today: Putin gets a new job, Bush plays nice in Sochi, South Korea and Russia agree on North Korea projects, more spy games in London, and Europe pressures Moscow on human rights in Chechnya. Despite sweeping several elections on an independent ticket, Vladimir Putin has never been an actual member of his own supporting political party, United Russia. That may change, as today party leader and speaker of parliament Boris Gryzlov, announced that when Putin becomes Russia’s prime minister on May 7, he will have another job to offer him: “I will propose to Vladimir Putin that he takes over the leadership of United Russia.” This move, which could deeply strengthen the party’s dominance over Russian politics, could happen as soon as April 14.