Dr. Yevgeny Volk writes the following in his article “Who’s Who in Russia’s Parliamentary Elections“: Under the electoral code, every State Duma aspirant must declare his or her income and holdings. United Russia candidates’ incomes, at least by Russian standards, are significantly higher than those of most other parties. President Putin’s 2006 annual income of $80,000 ranks among United Russia’s lowest. Then again, Samara Provincial Governor Vladimir Artyakov earned $57 million last year; Duma deputy Vladislav Reznik made $47 million; another deputy, Vladimir Gruzdev, made $38 million. Putin is presented as being much poorer than most provincial governors, whose annual incomes are significantly higher than $1 million.[9] These incomes are substantial by Russian standards; Russia’s average monthly salary of $600 is comparable with the U.S. poverty line.