"Our ideological platform rests on older liberals' experience. However, they belong to history now and their experience cannot be used in parliament," party leader Vladimir Shmelev said in a RIA Novosti interview.
Mr. Shmelev, the 24-year-old deputy of the municipal assembly of Moscow's Khoroshovsky district, emerged as a political figure at 16 when he led the First Free Generation youth movement.
The new party will not involve famous politicians of a national scale. "We are not unhappy about the absence of famous and annoying politicians in our ranks. We believe this is a chance to attract public attention to the program," said Mr. Shmelev.
The new party will not position itself as an opposition party, according to the leader.
"We recognize the legitimacy of the government and will not pursue the liberal tradition of being permanently in opposition," said Mr. Shmelev.
However, the party is opposed to the Moscow government and its methods.
The party is, thus far, being funded by some dozen small and medium companies.
"We do not want to be some oligarch's party and promote his interests," Mr. Shmelev explained, adding that big business had made financing proposals, which the party had not accepted.
The representatives of 52 of the 89 Russian regions are taking part in the congress. The participants are expected to adopt the charter and elect party leaders at the two-day congress.
