Russian State Duma bans photographers after deputies criticize images
Photo: Russian State Duma deputy Gennady Zyuganov (Getty Images)
Photographers no longer have access to the Russian State Duma during sessions. The parliament notes that the balcony where photographers usually worked is now reserved exclusively for operators from federal television channels, according to the Russian media.
The move follows a public reprimand by Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin at a plenary session, during which he accused Duma photographers of deliberately trying to show deputies in a bad light.
"When you are in a variety of situations, notice—we never joke about you, we never insult you, we never mock you, speaking plainly. But when you shoot from the balcony, you capture moments—probably the moments that exist in real life, and in your presence. That is not right," Volodin said.
Recently, many deputies have reportedly been unhappy with how they appear in photographs. The ruling Yedinaya Rossiya party even issued warnings to its members about photographers in the chamber, reminding them that they could be captured in close-up shots.
As recently as December 28, Vyacheslav Volodin thanked the same photographers and called the Russian State Duma the world's most open parliament.
Last year, a Ukrainian court sentenced Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin to 15 years in prison. He was directly involved in preparing Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In addition, more than 50 other Russian deputies were sentenced in absentia to 15 years each. They were accused of helping Russian leader Vladimir Putin launch the full-scale war in Ukraine.
