Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

United Russia, the political party of Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, is losing its grip in Russia's regions.

The Financial Times reports that United Russia, a party which "controls virtually every local legislature, mayoralty, and two-thirds of parliament, winning elections through fair means or foul" is beginning to lose its luster in local politics throughout Russia.

Mikhail Kasyanov, former prime minister and now a political opponent of the Kremlin, stated that: "On the national level, there is no alternative to United Russia, its position is secure. But on the local level there are alternatives, and this is why they are in trouble."