The article’s motif is research of the perception of political parties and of the multi-party system in Russian society. On the basis of analyzing the data of all-Russia polls and of discussion focus-groups, that are carried out by the “Public opinion” foundation, the author demonstrates that legitimation of the multi-party system in Russia is today being provided for partly by assimilating fundamental presumptions of democratic discourse, and partly by a mechanism of traditionalist reinterpretation, that virtually allows of likening today’s parties to the “leading and guiding force” of Soviet society. According to the author’s conclusion, because of the perceptible incongruity of the Russian parties both to the “Western” and to the “Soviet” model, this legitimation remains incomplete, limited, to a certain extent conditional, which, on the one hand, leaves intact citizens’ political alienation, aloofness and critical attitude to all currently working parties, and on the other – enables most Russians to recognize parties as an institution in principle useful for the country and, if without particular enthusiasm, to take part in elections.