4 russian political parties to hold their congresses today

Four Russian political parties, i.e. the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), the Party of Russian Revival, the Party of Peace and Unity and Yabloko, are holding their pre-election congresses today.

Congress delegates are to discuss campaign platforms and election-campaign tactics, also endorsing their federal ballots and nominating candidates for single-mandate districts.

No correspondents will be allowed to attend the CPRF congress; television cameramen alone will be able to shoot the so-called official footage for just several minutes, RIA-NOVOSTI learned at the CPRF press center. For his own part, CPRF leader Gennady Zyuganov will inform reporters about specific congress results only after the congress winds up.

On the contrary, Gennady Seleznev's Party of Russian Revival will hold an absolutely open congress.

The Yabloko congress, due to begin on Saturday, will end tomorrow. At the same time, journalists will only be able to hear reports by Grigory Yavlinsky and other party leaders.

Meanwhile the Party of Peace and Unity intends to join hands with the Movement For Presidential Policies, subsequently establishing an election bloc at its congress. Talking to RIA-NOVOSTI, the party's leader Sazhi Umalatova noted that this will be a business-like congress. Incidentally, journalists will be able to watch the discussion of the party ballot and its subsequent approval, as well as that of the independent-candidate list.