9 United Russia members defect to Just Russia Party.

MOSCOW, August 19 (Itar-Tass) - Nine members of the United Russia
Party in Smolensk joined the Opposition Just Russia Party. Deputy chairman
of the Smolensk regional legislature Nikolai Martynov, regional
legislature deputies Alexei Kazakov, Smolensk Town Council deputies Ilya
Lazarenkov, Sergei Lebedev, Vladimir Vinogradov, Galina Zhuravkova, and
Mikhail Atroshchenko and head of the Talashinskoye rural settlement Sergei
Esalnek and his deputy Igor Andreyev announced that they are quitting
United Russia.
Just Russia has already named it "the Smolensk Breakthrough." Lawmaker
at the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament Alexander
Chetverikov told reporters the issue of joining Just Russia was discussed
with other deputies of the Smolensk regional legislature and regional
politicians. "This process is under control of Just Russia's regional
branch and its head Oksana Laberko," Chetverikov said.
"Unlike our opponents, we're not trying to drag everybody into our
ranks at any cost. It is important for us to know to what extent these
people share the Party's' ideology, how honest they are, how sincere their
intentions are, whether they are professional and ready for real work for
the good of fellow citizens," the Just Russia representative said.
Meanwhile, Just Russia earlier expelled five State Duma lawmakers who
had joined the All Russia People's Front. They are deputy speaker
Alexander Babakov, former lawmaker Yelena Vtorygina, who had handed over
her mandate to Party leader Sergei Mironov, deputy head of the house
committee for nationalities Mikhail Starshinov and lawmaker Vlasily
Shestakov, as well as deputy chairman of the house committee for
protection of health Elmira Glubokovskaya. Also, four deputhyies of a town
council in the Kranodard territory joined United Russia.