The article examines patterns of party finance in Russia. In comparative terms, Russia now has one of the most regulated party finance regimes amongst established and emerging democracies. Over time, the amount of money circulating in the party sphere – or at least officially acknowledged – has increased. The reliance of the leading parties on state finance is now substantial, indicating that the pro-Kremlin groupings and the nominally opposition Communist Party of the Russian Federation have systematically built up a parliamentary ‘cartel’ to reinforce their position within the Russian party system.