"Kudrin's application is in my safe," Bogomolov said at a presidium session of the United Russia faction. "Although it has not been worded quite correctly, we will consider it as soon as the inaccuracy is amended." Less than an hour later, Mr. Kudrin categorically refuted Mr. Bogomolov's words. According to the minister, he is not going to join United Russia, as it has not yet become a genuine and full-fledged party. "I think United Russia still has to win the trust of citizens," said the minister.
Meanwhile, in his interview with Gazeta, Mr. Bogomolov said that Mr. Kudrin's application did exist but it was written "as a joke". According to him, at a recent Duma session of the United Russia faction, the minister said he could "well be considered a United Russia member," and immediately wrote a humorous application to join the party. When Gazeta asked Mr. Bogomolov to produce the minister's ironic masterpiece, the former jokingly said, he had eaten the application.
According to Alexei Makarkin, deputy director general of the Center for Political Technologies, "one should not expect any mass admission of ministers to United Russia." "First, it will be joined by those who do not feel safe in their current posts," the expert said. Mr. Kudrin is not someone who needs support from United Russia.
