Photo: Kommersant
A new political spectacle is unfolding in Russia, this time with the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), which, despite its name, has never been liberal or democratic. Three years after the death of the party’s controversial founder Vladimir Zhirinovsky, his successor Leonid Slutsky is trying to change the image of the political force from a fringe far-right party to a “party of diplomacy,” the independent Meduza media outlet writes, citing sources in the Kremlin and the LDPR itself.
The proposal, which at first glance looks exotic, is already being discussed in the Putin administration. According to the sources, the idea is to use the LDPR as a political bridge for the Kremlin’s ties with right-wing parties in Europe, Africa and the former Soviet Union. The idea is that the LDPR, as an alleged “systemic opposition,” can act as an intermediary where United Russia, Vladimir Putin’s ruling party, does not want to be seen directly.
The Kremlin believes that it is easier for some political forces in the world, especially those marginalised in their own countries, to work with the Liberal Democratic Party rather than the official Russian government. This approach allows Putin and his entourage to act through proxy structures while remaining in the shadows.
Slutsky, who chairs the State Duma’s Committee on International Affairs, already has experience coordinating visits by foreign pro-Russian politicians and has long positioned himself behind the scenes as a “shadow diplomat”. According to sources, the party even had a plan to turn him into a “Russian James Bond” – a figure who operates in the shadows but solves global issues. This narrative did not take hold, but now the Kremlin is considering giving it a second chance.
An additional factor in rethinking the role of the Liberal Democratic Party was Slutsky’s unsuccessful presidential run: in the 2024 elections, he gained only 3.24%, finishing last. Political technologists are looking for ways to restore the party’s popularity, which is still based on Zhirinovsky’s legacy.
Meanwhile, Slutsky himself is actively promoting the idea of international positioning of the party, trying to turn it into a “flexible tool” to achieve the Kremlin’s foreign policy goals. Particular attention is planned to be paid to such regions as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Armenia, and African countries such as Mali, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
However, the idea does not yet have a clear strategic plan. Kremlin analysts themselves admit that it is unclear what exactly the Liberal Democratic Party’s “diplomatic mission” will look like. All that is known is that high-ranking officials such as Kiriyenko or Kharitsev will not be going on a business trip. The “dirty work” will be done by political consultants, and Slutsky may appear at a few meetings for the official picture.
Despite the ambitious intentions, there is scepticism within the LDPR about the plan’s implementation. Some party members doubt Slutsky’s diplomatic potential, considering him too vague for his new role.
However, the initiative itself indicates a trend towards the Kremlin’s increasing use of “systemic opposition” as an instrument of international legitimisation, propaganda and influence – especially in light of Russia’s global isolation.
