State Duma deputies were asked to be more restrained in social networks

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, at the first meeting of the lower house since April 20, supported the proposal that deputies behave more “carefully” on social networks, speaking out on the topic of the special operation. The reason for this was the speech of the coordinator of the Communist Party faction Nikolai Kolomeitsev. Three deputies told Vedomosti about this. The question of this arose on May 16 at the very beginning of the discussion of the agenda of the meeting of the State Duma, which takes place behind closed doors from journalists.

Kolomeytsev said that deputies need to be more restrained on social networks on the topic of the special operation, says one of Vedomosti’s sources. Another interlocutor clarifies that Kolomeitsev suggested that the deputies stop “showdowns in social networks on the issues of the special operation and not write complaints against each other.” The speaker supported Kolomeitsev’s proposal, he adds.

The reason for the speech of the communist was the reaction to the posts of a member of the defense committee Viktor Sobolev (KPRF), two deputies said. He said that for the transition from military units to PMC “Wagner” threatens up to 15 years in prison. Kolomeitsev did not answer Vedomosti, which was his initiative. Vedomosti sent a request to the press service of the State Duma.

In the closed part of the meeting, Mikhail Delyagin, a member of the Just Russia faction, proposed introducing private military companies into the legal field. To this proposal, Volodin sent Delyagin to the chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, Andrei Kartapolov (United Russia).

On October 18, 2022, Volodin decided to close online broadcasts of State Duma meetings on the website of the lower house. This was due to the discussion of some aspects of the special operation.

The broadcast remained only for journalists accredited in the State Duma, and on some issues it was closed to everyone.

But on March 21, the broadcasts were returned to the website of the State Duma – however, the discussion of the agenda of the meeting, where deputies make various proposals, including the removal of certain issues from the agenda, remained behind closed doors. For example, it was in closed session that Volodin told the deputies about the effectiveness of the work of the Duma committees.