We carried out non-partisan work with volunteers

The LDPR held a Forum to promote the special military operation “Shoulder to Shoulder” in Moscow. Party members invited representatives of an extensive network of small businesses and volunteer associations involved in meeting the needs of the North Military District fighters. The event, as LDPR leader Leonid Slutsky assured, is not of an election nature and is aimed at consolidating patriotic forces, regardless of their political preferences.

The Northern Military District Promotion Forum was held on January 13 at Crocus Expo near Moscow. In the indoor arena, accustomed to the pavilions of farmers, metallurgists, advertisers, and others, a dozen manufacturers of military accessories were stationed. Instead of a supermarket lounge, the fair was accompanied by the guitar accompaniment of a patriotic band, thundering in a specially designated corner.

Turrets, periscopes, first aid kits, dry rations, camouflage coats, unloading vests, tires, semi-handicraft buggies, etc. were presented to the visitors, dressed mainly in camouflage (some complemented their costumes with badges with a crossed-out camera), etc. The products were presented by the manufacturers themselves: from special divisions of budgetary institutions to volunteer artels and individual craftsmen.

The stand owners who made it to the capital level did not hide their joy. “They brought us, put us in business class, helped us get ready,” they shared with Kommersant at the stand with radio equipment. “LDPR? Well, that’s normal, no one asked to campaign, and we wouldn’t refuse.” Indeed, the party essence of the forum was revealed only by volunteers in branded vests and deputies who arrived in the hall for the leader’s arrival. “This is not all for the sake of an election campaign,” Leonid Slutsky later assured Kommersant. “What we did unites and consolidates people with any party card in their pocket, of any age, religion, living in all regions of Russia.”

Mr. Slutsky also spoke about consolidation in a speech for forum participants, emphasizing that it is called upon to “unite our Kulibins, many of whom have been working for a long time.”

“In just over a year, hundreds of innovative enterprises have been created, which we gathered at this forum, so that it would not be the case that everyone in their city was reinventing the wheel,” explained the Liberal Democrat, noting the merits of the volunteers present, but first of all, the Russian fighters.

The audience supported the politician. “In general, I came here only because you gathered here, because communication began,” a soldier of the volunteer battalion named after Pavel Sudoplatov (created in the Zaporozhye region, in June 2023 became part of the Ministry of Defense) told those present ), drawing furious applause. He emphasized that communication is “the most important thing,” because wherever it is, “we win,” and suggested organizing “platforms based on interests” (for doctors, “bepeeleshniks,” engineers, etc.): “I am engaged in innovative developments and implementation in combat operations, we have a lot to say to manufacturers, I hope that they will hear us at such forums.”

After the plenary part, a queue of manufacturers, activists and other invitees lined up to see Leonid Slutsky. “Not a single request will hang in the air or go unheeded,” the LDPR leader assured journalists. The most relevant of them, according to the head of the Rokot-33 center, Vsevolod Gryaznov, are “fuel cards” and state guarantees for volunteers.

The forum is designed to promote the LDPR and presidential candidate Leonid Slutsky in the patriotic niche, says political strategist Vladimir Perevozchikov, “however, on this platform, the LDPR, of course, is not the first – everyone is doing it.” The liberal democrats should not expect an increase in the electorate on this flank, the expert believes: “The authorities and United Russia dominate here.” The fact that the LDPR has started to do this and is building a structure is very true, but the electorate is not potatoes to spud it up and transfer it from one place to another.” However, in the patriotic niche the party has its own, previously acquired voter, and in this case “it’s more about supporting one’s electorate, working with the core,” argues Mr. Perevozchikov. And such work, he is sure, will bear fruit, “after all, in addition to the presidential history, there is the history of the future State Duma and, in principle, support.”

Grigory Leiba