ODM Holds High-Level Talks With Russian Party Linked To Putin
A delegation from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi, met with leaders of the United Russia Party, a political organization close to President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow, Russia.
At the meeting on Tuesday, July 15, the two parties held bilateral meetings and discussed how they could work together to improve political party diplomacy.
“Deputy Party Leader Sen. Godfrey Osotsi yesterday led a group of party members of parliament into a consultative meeting with officials of the United Russia Party (URP) at the party headquarters in Moscow, Russia,” read the statement in part.
“During the meeting, they held bilateral talks on cooperation between the two parties and how they can work together in strengthening political party diplomacy,” it added.
Osotsi was joined by Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga (a Party Trustee), Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo (ODM National Vice Chairman), and Paul Matuyia, MCA for Kitengela Ward.
DPL @HonSenOsotsi leads ODM team
— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) July 16, 2025
for a meeting in Russia. pic.twitter.com/xscZzKat0Y
Andrey Klimov, Member of the URP’s Supreme Council and Deputy Chairperson of the Federal Council Committee on Foreign Relations, met the ODM contingent.
In addition to the meeting, the leaders brought a message of goodwill from party leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to the URP’s leadership.
While Putin is neither officially the leader or a member of United Russia, he is widely regarded as the party’s de facto head and ultimate benefactor.
United Russia was formed in 2001 by the merger of numerous pro-Kremlin political blocs, including “Unity,” which was established in 1999 to support then-new Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
The party’s swift climb to dominance in the State Duma (Russia’s lower house of parliament) was directly related to Putin’s enormous personal popularity and acts, such as his handling of the Chechen crisis.
It effectively became the “party of power,” a vehicle for maintaining Kremlin influence over the legislative branch and rallying political support for the President.
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While serving as Prime Minister (2008-2012) under Dmitry Medvedev’s presidency, Putin formally assumed the job of chairman of United Russia.
This was a strategic decision that allowed him to keep direct control over the political system even while he was not the president.
When Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, he resigned as party chairman, giving up the office to Dmitry Medvedev, who still holds it now.
Despite not being a formal member, Putin routinely addresses party congresses, directs their agenda, and is publicly supported as the party’s undisputed head.
ODM Holds High-Level Talks With Russian Party Linked To Putin
