The Unseen Assembly: Russia’s Final Blackout on Parliamentary Transparency

Speaker Volodin’s rhetoric regarding the ban was particularly striking, as he suggested that photographers were suffering from "serious mental problems" because they focused on catching embarrassing moments rather than "evaluating substantive work." He challenged journalists to consider how they would feel if their own loved ones were photographed in awkward positions, a comparison that many critics viewed as a deflection from the professional accountability required of public officials. This paternalistic framing suggests that the role of the press is not to observe reality, but to participate in the construction of a respectful national narrative, regardless of the actual conduct of those in power.