The article, on the whole, throws light upon one of political science research branches that happens to be dynamically developing abroad: the one studying money turnover in politics. Inasmuch as the presently published first part of the article deals with Russia, it is not so much officially presumed ways and methods of financing politics that the author analyzes in it, as, in fact, the actual process of accumulation and distribution of money resources in the sphere of politics. Certain concrete aspects and features of the process are, of course, given special attention. Thus, problems receiving special elucidation are, in particular: corruption; financing elections; investments in political TV advertising (their increasing role); changes that the very character of the financing of Russian parties is undergoing, including those due to the restriction being imposed by the state on the parties' economic self-dependence.