RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – October 16, 2009
President Medvedev will move forward his scheduled meeting with Duma deputies to October 24, following their election-related protests, although he maintains that the United Russia victory is legitimate. LDPR and A Just Russia have said they will end their boycott imminently, whilst the Communist faction will not attend today’s session. According to Reuters, Kremlin opponents say that Medvedev’s backing of the election results demonstrates the paucity of his pledge towards greater political freedom. Is the rivalry between ideologue Vladislav Surkov and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin the real story behind the walkout? An article on RFE/RL is also cynical about the authenticity of the protesters’ motives, for ‘Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky is no oppositionist’.