Party-system development under Putin

Using interviews and election-related documents, a political scientist examines party-system development in Russia under President Putin. The main focus is on the 2001 law "On political parties" in the context of the 2003 Duma election; several additional amendments to electoral legislation in Putin's first term are also considered. The content of this legislation, how it has worked in practice, and the conduct of the election campaign are analyzed to ascertain the attitude of Vladimir Putin's administration to political parties. The implications of the party-system reforms passed in Putin's second term are also considered, looking forward to the 2007 Duma election.