Russian Ecological Party

   “THE GREENS.”

   Political party. Known in Russian as Rossiiskaia ekologicheskaia partiia “Zelionyie,” the Russian Ecological Party (REP) is Russia’s leading political party dedicated to environmentalism. Initially established as Cedar (Kedr) in the early 1990s, the REP is dedicated to protecting the environment from the destructive effects of contemporary civilization. The party platform stresses ecological responsibility, health and social security, reduction of pollution, protection of animal and plant species, and energy conservation. The party’s political support has remained rather low in Russia, a country shaped by decades of Leninist use and abuse of the environment, rarely breaking the 1 percent mark. Due to electoral reforms, the REP has been virtually eliminated from contention for seats in the State Duma since 2003; however, it won seats in the Samara’s regional parliament in 2007. The party now works to help implement the Russian Ecological Doctrine, a state-based commitment to implement ecological reform.