The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (Коммунисти́ческая Па́ртия Росси́йской Федера́ции = КПРФ) is a Russian political party. Although it is sometimes seen a successor to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of the RSFSR , legally it is not related to these parties. The party has emphasised its uniquely Russian character and it has consistently invoked Russian patriotism in addition to communism.

Early members included Aleksandr Dugin who helped to draft early party documents and pushed the party in the direction of nationalism. He has since left to join the National Bolshevik Party. Party leader Gennady Zyuganov also briefly worked with leading European nationalist Jean-Francois Thiriart before the latter's death.

Its support had been building steadily since its establishment in 1993, but it dropped massively in the 2003 parliamentary elections and has remained low since.

The CPRF is led by Gennady Zyuganov, who called the 2003 elections a 'revolting spectacle' and accuses the Kremlin of setting up a Potemkin party, the Rodina party, to steal its votes.

In July 2004 a breakaway faction elected Vladimir Tikhonov as its leader.

Polling Figures

• 1993: Duma - 12%
• 1995: Duma - 22%
• 1996: presidential - 40% (second round)
• 1999: Duma - 24%
• 2000: presidential - 29% (first round)
• 2003: Duma - 12%
• 2004: presidential - 13.8% (first round)

External links

• [1] - in Russian language.

See also

• History of post-Soviet Russia
• Politics of Russia