Putin speaking at Russia’s ruling party congress

United Russia actively supports the president and his activities, despite him not officially being a member Russian President Vladimir Putin is speaking at the United Russia congress in Moscow.

The gathering is aimed at approving the ruling party’s program for the parliamentary election on September 8-12.

The party’s leader, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, has said Putin will be joining the delegates in the Russian capital.

Putin already delivered an address at the first stage of the United Russia congress in late June, during which its candidate list, topped by the likes of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, was finalized.

The president is not officially a member of United Russia, but the party has actively supported him and his activities since its foundation in 2001.

United Russia currently holds 315 out of 450 seats in the Russian legislature, the State Duma.