United Russia — an all-Russian political party, formed on December 1, 2001, at a founding congress and entered into the register of the Russian Ministry of Justice on January 31, 2003.[1][2] In the Nizhny Novgorod Region, its interests are represented by a regional branch — an independent legal entity registered on April 1, 2002, at an address in Nizhny Novgorod on Alekseevskaya Street (Dzerzhinskogo), 10/16.[3] Since autumn 2019, the branch has been led by the Region's Governor Gleb Nikitin.[4]

Formation of the party

The founding congress of December 1, 2001, transformed the All-Russian Union "Unity and Fatherland" into a political party. The Union had brought together the Unity movement, created in 1999, and the Fatherland — All Russia bloc, which had grown out of Yuri Luzhkov's Fatherland movement and the All Russia association of regional leaders. The party's original name was "Unity and Fatherland — United Russia"; the current name became official in 2003.[2]

The party's co-chairs at its founding were Sergei Shoigu, Yuri Luzhkov, and Mintimer Shaimiev. From 2008, the party was led by Vladimir Putin; since 2011 the chairmanship has been held by Dmitry Medvedev — he continues to hold this post in 2026.[2][10]

Name and registration

In the Ministry of Justice register, the party is listed as the "All-Russian Political Party 'UNITED RUSSIA'", primary state registration number 1037739350934, registration date January 31, 2003, address — Moscow, Bannyy Pereulok, 3. The right to act on behalf of the party without a power of attorney is vested in the Secretary of the General Council; this position is held by Vladimir Yakushev.[1]

The Nizhny Novgorod regional branch is registered as a separate legal entity as of April 1, 2002, primary state registration number 1025200008415, taxpayer identification number 5260105371.[3]

Nizhny Novgorod branch

From February 2018, the branch was led by State Duma deputy Denis Moskvin. On October 24, 2019, the Presidium of the party's General Council approved the candidacy of Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin for the post of acting secretary of the regional branch; he is listed as the branch's head in its registration records as of 2026 as well.[3][4]

The composition of the regional political council is updated at branch conferences. On November 19, 2024, several members were removed from the council, including former City Duma speaker Oleg Lavrichev, and new members were added: City Council speaker of Nizhny Novgorod Evgeny Chintsov, regional Minister of Sport Dmitry Kabaylo, and First Deputy Head of the regional executive committee Dmitry Filipenko.[5]

Elections of 2016 and 2021

In the elections of September 18, 2016, for the sixth-convocation Regional Legislative Assembly of the Region, eleven parties took part: more than 440 candidates were nominated on party lists and 130 in single-member constituencies, with voting held at 2,237 polling stations.[8] The United Russia general regional list was headed at that time by Governor Valery Shantsev, Shchetinina Olga Vladimirovna, and Vladimir Pakov.[11]

In September 2021, elections were held simultaneously in the Region for both the State Duma and the seventh-convocation Legislative Assembly. According to the regional electoral commission, in the State Duma elections United Russia received 49.82% of the vote, the CPRF — 19.27%, A Just Russia — For Truth — 8.59%, the LDPR — 7.13%, and New People — 5.19%. In the Legislative Assembly elections the distribution was similar: 48.95%, 19.23%, 9.56%, 7.02%, and 5.52% respectively.[6]

Turnout in the State Duma elections was 48.52%, and in the Legislative Assembly elections — 47.32%. A total of 126,493 voters in the Region registered for remote electronic voting.[6]

Elections of 2025 and 2026

The vote of September 12–14, 2025, formed the first-convocation City Duma of Nizhny Novgorod: the Duma was elected anew following the merger of the city with Kstovo District. In 39 single-member constituencies, United Russia won 28 seats, the CPRF — 5, the LDPR — 3, A Just Russia — 2, and New People — 1. Turnout was 21.33%.[7]

The next elections to the ninth-convocation State Duma are scheduled for September 18, 19, and 20, 2026, with September 20 as the main voting day. A total of 450 deputies are to be elected — half by party lists, half in single-member constituencies; ten parties are included on the ballot.[9]

Branch publications

In addition to its electoral campaigns, the branch has produced its own thematic posters. In 2009, a broadsheet titled "Heroes of Russia — the Pride of Nizhny Novgorod Residents" was published, featuring portraits and brief biographies of ten people connected with the Region who had been awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. The "Historical Stop" series was dedicated to veterans of the Great Patriotic War.

Sources

  1. minjust.gov.ru — Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation — All-Russian Political Party "UNITED RUSSIA" — political party register entry (archive)
  2. Kommersant (Volga Region) — United Russia: how the party was created (archive)
  3. rusprofile.ru — Nizhny Novgorod Regional Branch of the All-Russian Political Party "United Russia" — registration details
  4. Kommersant (Volga Region) — Gleb Nikitin heads the United Russia regional branch (archive)
  5. Kommersant (Volga Region) — The Nizhny Novgorod branch of United Russia has updated its political council (archive)
  6. nn.aif.ru — Argumenty i Fakty — Nizhny Novgorod — What were the results of the 2021 elections in the Nizhny Novgorod Region (archive)
  7. KP — Nizhny Novgorod — Komsomolskaya Pravda — Results of the Nizhny Novgorod City Duma elections published (archive)
  8. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — More than 440 candidates on party lists are participating in the elections to the Regional Legislative Assembly (archive)
  9. Lenta.ru — State Duma elections 2026: dates, parties, voting procedure
  10. Lenta.ru — United Russia's platform for the 2026 elections (archive)
  11. Vremya N — United Russia has approved the lists of candidates for elections to the Nizhny Novgorod Region Legislative Assembly (archive)