Parties in modern Russia: real political actors or their imitation?

The article is devoted to the analysis of a place and a role of parties in the contemporary Russian political system. Authors confirm that post-Soviet political parties, in spite of their varieties, are not parties in their classic format, they do not fulfill tasks, but only imitate their fulfillment; its basic functions are articulation of social interests, formulation of ideas of political doctrines and so on. Authors find out the reasons for absence of the powerful and authoritative parties in Russia in humiliation of the institute of party as a mediator between the civil society and state, weakness of self organization of a civil society, underdevelopment of the real political competition, democratic institutes, unavailability of mass consciousness to perceive political parties as the main actor in creation of the architecture of the authority and public policy. The article examines alternative ways for developing the party system in Russia and pre-conditions for appearance of authoritative and competitive parties.