By Ekaterina Janashia | 2026-02-13

While many Russians juggle rising prices and a militarized economy, their elected representatives were photographed juggling something else: mobile games and luxury shopping pages. Days later, the State Duma closed its press balcony to independent photographers, moving to control the images that reach the public rather than addressing the lawmakers' behavior.

Beginning January 21, the balcony overlooking the chamber -- long used by the press -- became off-limits to anyone except camera crews from state-controlled federal television channels, according to Vedomosti.

The decision effectively ends the era of candid parliamentary photography. From now on, only images shot by state TV operators and the Duma's official photographer will reach the public.

Games in session

The backlash followed the opening of the spring session on January 13. Photographers captured deputies absorbed in iPad games, browsing for jackets costing millions of rubles, blowing kisses and picking their noses.

"These are parasites, not deputies... a disgrace," a guest user wrote under a post by Fontanka.ru.

On Instagram, user a.n.y.u.t.a_v wrote: "While the whole country struggles to survive and works to exhaustion, deputies have turned the meeting hall into a closed hobby club. They don’t just pass absurd laws -- they do it without looking up from choosing a new wardrobe or playing games on their smartphones."

Rather than reprimand deputies, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin criticized the journalists.

On the eve of the ban, Volodin accused photographers of trying to "sneak a peek and show [deputies] in a bad light," Vedomosti reported. He argued the press was "making fun" of lawmakers and "destroying everything" by highlighting moments that, he suggested, happen in everyday life. "Is it right if people did that to your loved ones, whom you respect?" he asked.

Volodin also drew an unusual comparison to Britain.

"They don't realize how happy they are," Volodin said. "If life had turned out that way and they worked in the British Parliament, they would have been sent to the galleys long ago."

Soon after, the Duma press service announced the balcony would "return to its original purpose" of serving only federal TV operators. Officials said the Duma's own photographer would handle still images, centralizing control over visual coverage.

Even the ruling United Russia party warned members via messenger that photographers were still active during the transition and reminded them they could be "photographed at any moment."

Closed-door governance

The photography ban fits a broader pattern of tightening information control.

Earlier, Volodin instructed deputies to discuss "sharp" and "unpleasant" initiatives behind closed doors before announcing them publicly. "We need to find the opportunity to discuss the most acute topics... and do it in such a [closed] format," Volodin said during a portion of a session already closed to media, according to Vedomosti.

He said such secrecy was necessary "if we want to achieve a solution, rather than other results."

The timing of the "blackout" has deepened public frustration. As state resources flow to the front, civilian sectors have struggled, and inflation has squeezed household budgets.

"It feels like this news is about North Korea," one commenter wrote under the Fontanka.ru post.

On Instagram, user liudmila.dits wrote: "Idlers, they produce nothing, they just play and receive huge salaries from the budget."

Another user, natalia.arinina, added: "Wake up, people, what is happening to our Russia?????? Pensioners are rummaging through dumpsters while deputies spend their workdays having fun.... Playing!!!!"

Some focused on accountability itself.

"Why do deputies have secrets from their constituents? Deputies who whisper behind the backs of voters are not needed by citizens," wrote user Slava_Rossii2 under the same Fontanka.ru thread.