Russia's Ruling Party Urges Hiding Its Branding at Mass Events Ahead of Elections
United Russia, the ruling political party, has distributed campaign guidelines advising regional branches to minimize party branding at mass events to avoid voter backlash before the September State Duma elections.
According to sources cited by Meduza, both the Kremlin and United Russia are concerned about the unpredictable political climate and its impact on the campaign for the State Duma elections scheduled for September 18–20. The party plans to finalize and release its platform in late August.
The party's federal leadership has prepared campaign guidelines and distributed them to regional branches and administrations. The document recommends organizing campaigning around three thematic lines: "protection and care," "pride and victory," and "leadership and development." However, it provides no concrete examples of how to implement these themes.
One notable suggestion is the potential authorization to brand United Russia as "Putin's party." A final decision, along with the platform release, is expected in late August. However, a political strategist warned that this could backfire, as the party list is formally led by Prime Minister Medvedev, not Putin.
The guidelines also address the absence of a platform mid-campaign. Regional officials are advised to invite citizens and civic organizations to help draft it, under the initiative called "Creating the Future Together." This approach is meant to portray consultation rather than unpreparedness.
Specific campaign events are outlined for two weekends: September 5–6 and September 12–13. These should include mass public events like city days, harvest festivals, and courtyard fairs with concerts. Importantly, the use of party branding at these events is allowed only "on a scale and in a manner that will not generate a negative reaction" among voters. A strategist noted that while such festivals are a traditional tactic, they should not be the main element of the campaign.
