Izvestiya: "United Russia conference expects record attendance"
The forum will start at noon with six ad hoc sessions discussing the People's The party leader Vladimir Putin is expected to arrive at the very beginning of the discussion. He is supposed to drop into two or three sessions. "He will definitely attend the session on social policy," a source close to the session organisers told Izvestiya.
When the discussion is over, Putin will leave and the conference will carry on without him. The prime minister was the one to open the previous session in St Petersburg in 2009. This time Chairman of the party's Supreme Council Boris Gryzlov will start the event at 15:00.
"He will run the conference either standing at the big screen or sitting in the front row," the party members say.
On the second day of the conference, over 10,000 people will gather at the sports arena in Luzhniki.
For a reference: the 2008 pre-election conferences of the U.S. Republican and Democratic parties saw 50,000 people each. Journalists made around 15,000 attendees at each of the sessions.
The number of attendees is usually much smaller at European conferences. During a Bundestag pre-election period, Germany's largest parties, the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party of Germany, attracted only a few thousand guests and delegates each.
Both Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev are expected to appear on the second day of the forum. Boris Gryzlov will still host the event.
For the previous conference, Medvedev, Putin, and Gryzlov arrived at the same time. Now Gryzlov will start the session at around 13:00. "Medvedev and Putin will arrive later," the source claims. Finally, we will get to hear long-awaited announcements. We will learn whether both leaders agree to top the list of the party's candidates.
The delegates were accommodated in the Cosmos hotel. Their transfer and hotel expenses were covered by the party budget. Refreshments will only be provided during a "nutritious coffee break".
The conference was fully organised by the United Russia Executive Committee's Organisational Department. The televised version of the conference will be broadcast by the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company – VGTRK.
United Russia was particularly thoroughly equipped for the first day of the conference, which the Izvestiya reporter was able to confirm after visiting the forum's venue.
The day before the forum was really busy for the atrium-like halls of Gostiny Dvor on Ilyinka street. The builders were finishing the conference hall, display stands, and rooms for ad hoc sessions. The morning was spent on setting up the television equipment and catering arrangements. Dozens of people in red and blue uniform were carrying coiled cords, drilling holes, arranging the props and laying the wires.
The round inner courtyard of Gostiny Dvor was divided in two parts. One of them was converted into a conference room while the other accommodated glass cubicles with cameras for online broadcasting. These 'aquariums' will be given over for the discussion of the People's Programme on the first day of the session.
One manager of a food store based in the exhibition centre told Izvestiya that the major portion of the offices located in the building will be closed for this day.
"Thank God tomorrow it will be a pain only for those who are catering the conference," the woman said.
The Sytnikov restaurant, also located in the exhibition centre, will be in charge of catering for the delegates. On the first day of the conference, the restaurant would only serve the party delegates, a spokesperson told Izvestiya.
"We will only be serving the conference guests and will not be able to accept any outside customers," said a member of staff.
He also stressed the restaurant would not offer any food extravaganza and would serve its traditional menu. First course: cheese soup with white mushroom broth. Second course: chicken and lamb kebab, lamb ribs, gilthead with vegetables, and a salmon steak.
For appetizers: Greek salad, Caesar salad and cheese: Kaserei Champignon DorBlu, Parmesan, Edam and Camambert. Lovers of Italian cuisine can order Pasta alla Carbonara or Salmon Fetuccine. The wine list features French brands, such as Château Rudelle, Château Lavagnac, Cuveé Saint Valery, and Château Larmevaille.
In order to serve all the guests, the restaurant has purchased extra counters to send out orders.
Mikhail Rubin, Yevgeny Yershov
