United Russia has won a race to register the pro-modernization "Go Russia!" movement, beating the rival A Just Russia party — which first declared its intention to form the group, Interfax reported Tuesday.
The name stems from a 2009 modernization article by President Dmitry Medvedev that has become the staple of his political agenda. Both pro-Kremlin parties voiced plans to register a movement by that name to promote Medvedev's innovation policies last year.
Senior Just Russia official Gennady Gudkov was the first to announce his Go Russia! group last May, but his registration request was rejected by the Justice Ministry in December.
But United Russia's group, established in October, was successful, obtaining registration last week, Interfax said. The movement is headed by Boris Gryzlov, head of the party's State Duma faction.
Gudkov said Tuesday that United Russia's group existed only on paper, a statement echoed by liberal politicians Vladimir Ryzhkov and Leonid Gozman.
