"United Russia was set up, and has been operating as a party of the President's supporters," the statement reads. "Serving as a basis for our joint actions is the course toward this country's accelerated revival and consolidation, toward the creation of decent, fair, and secure living conditions for its nationals." According to Yevgeny Trofimov, who chairs the Central Coordination Council of United Russia's Supporters, the party is presently 740,000 member strong. "Sixty-three thousand [people] have joined our party since December 7, 2003," he said, recalling that United Russia received as many as 22 million votes in the latest legislative ballot.
"Thanks to the incumbent president's considered and principled course, a politically responsible and able authority has been formed in the country for the first time in its recent history. A significant step has been made toward consolidating society for the sake of the country and its citizens," the party points out in its statement.
Prominent members of Russia's artistic and scientific communities took the floor at today's session to back Putin's policies.
