The All-Russia People's Front may need to rethink its name after a Ukrainian political party promoting a return to the Soviet Union announced plans to join.
The Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine has been invited to join forces with the All-Russia front by International Russia, a social association that is also signing up, party head Natalya Vitrenko told Interfax late Tuesday.
The party's presidium approved the move because "the will of our people is to be united with Russia and Belarus," Vitrenko said. "Forms of cooperation will be determined by September."
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin founded the All-Russia People's Front in May to nominate candidates for the upcoming State Duma elections, participation in which is closed to foreigners.
But Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed Vitrenko's party Wednesday, saying the front is open to all supporters, Interfax reported.
The Progressive Socialist Party has a controversial reputation in its home country, as does its head, whom media have dubbed the "Ukrainian Zhirinovsky," after flamboyant Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
Vitrenko, 59, co-founded the party in 1996 with a goal to restore the Soviet regime, complete with a planned economy and a unification with Russia and Belarus.
Many analysts, however, have the party as a publicity stunt orchestrated by spin doctors close to former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma to lure voters away from other leftist groups.
The party was represented in Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, from 1998 to 2002.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.