KPRF DEPUTY HEAD MELNIKOV ON ELECTIONS, THE TANDEM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 002944

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM ECON RS
SUBJECT: KPRF DEPUTY HEAD MELNIKOV ON ELECTIONS, THE TANDEM
AND THE PARTY'S FUTURE

Classified By: Acting Political MinCouns David Kostelancik for reasons
1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) Summary: Deputy Head of the Communist Party in the
State Duma Ivan Melnikov and Andrey Petrovich Fillipov, Head
of the International Department of the party's Central
Committee, met with us December 4. Discussion included the
October 11 elections, views of Medvedev's modernization
drive, Putin's four hour call-in session, rumors of a merger
with Just Russia, and future initiatives of the party. The
mood was characterized by guarded optimism about Medvedev,
open cynicism about Putin, and confidence in the party's
future despite little evidence of opportunity for
improvement. End Summary.


October Elections: Another Missed Opportunity for Medvedev
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Melnikov described the October elections as flawed,
nowhere more so than in Moscow. Mayor Luzhkov so distorted
the vote count that President Medvedev was forced to schedule
a meeting with the three Duma opposition parties to discuss
reforms to the system. Melnikov was present for the meeting,
and was impressed with Medvedev's formation of a task force
comprised of representatives from all four Duma political
parties to investigate abuses. Both Melnikov and Fillipov
agreed that Medvedev, in his Russia Forward article and
Poslaniye, was describing a future for Russia that the
Communists could support. As with his promises for election
reform, however, he was making grand statements and then
failing to come through on any of his promises. Putin, on
the other hand, was seen by the Communists to be continuing
the same successful self-serving policies. They described
his marathon four hour phone-in session as "Santa Claus
coming to Russia," as Putin avoided serious political issues
and focused on handing out cash.

Merger Rumors Refuted, but Not Dismissed
--------------


3. (C) Novaya Gazeta reported December 2 that during a
meeting between Communist Party Head Gennadiy Zyuganov and
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the two discussed a merger of
the KPRF with rival opposition party Just Russia. In the
same paper on December 4 Zyuganov refuted the claim.
Melnikov, however, was careful not to deny the possibility of
a merger in the future. While he was clear that he did not
feel Just Russia was a good match for the KPRF, he also
stressed that the Communists were willing to work with, and
potentially incorporate, any party that shared their views
and policy goals. He mentioned LDPR and Yabloko specifically
as potential partners.

A New Book to Tout an Old Theme
--------------


4. (C) The KPRF will release a major report just before March
2010 called, "Russia's Path Forward to Socialism," which will
contrast the economic situation in the country since 1991 to
that of the Soviet period. Melnikov states this report would
be the foundation for Communist election campaigns leading up
to the federal elections in 2012. The party has been
frustrated by an inability to capitalize on the financial
crisis by taking support from United Russia with promises of
socialist policies. United Russia' popularity has remained
relatively stable, while that of the KPRF has risen only
marginally. (Note: In some areas of Southern Russia, the
Communist Party is gaining significant support at the expense
of United Russia. This point was not raised by our
interlocutors. End Note.) This report appears aimed at
breathing new life into that argument. Unfortunately
Melnikov offered no new policy ideas in support of the report.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) Melnikov and Fillipov seemed genuinely optimistic that
Medvedev might begin to push for serious change in the
country, and were specifically enthusiastic about his calls
for an innovation-based economy. Putin remains for them the
power behind the electoral fraud that prevented the KPRF from
making gains in October 11 regional elections. While the
party's report, "Russia's Path Forward to Socialism," has the
potential to rekindle a debate about the benefits of greater
socialism, "Santa" Putin reiterated in his phone-in show that
he, too, is adept at offering social support in exchange for
political stability. While the KPRF maintains its solid base
of support throughout the country, without serious further

MOSCOW 00002944 002 OF 002


decline in the economy it seems unlikely that repackaging
their socialist policies in a new report will undermine
United Russia's continued popularity.
Beyrle