Black list of MPs
The inaugural session of GRAD took place at the State Duma on 3 August. The group’s site reported that the meeting was attended by leaders and notable figures, including the chair of the Fair Russia – For Truth party, the co-chair of the same party, a senior State Duma committee chair on national affairs, a deputy, a senator, and a mix of party members, public personalities, and cultural figures.
According to GRAD, the organization seeks to curb Western influence in culture, erect barriers against agents of foreign intervention, and foster opportunities for patriotic cultural elites and young talent. The aim is described as reshaping what is referred to as the cultural fifth pillar and strengthening national cultural sovereignty, as stated on the group’s website.
The members agreed that reforms in the cultural sector were necessary. They also signaled an intent to expose instances of support for Russia by officials, companies, and cultural figures connected to hostile or unfriendly states, with a commitment to alert supervisory authorities about such cases. There was also mention of creating an information resource to chronicle cultural figures deemed unsuitable for government roles due to anti-state positions.
Among those listed as blacklisted were the television host Urgant, the Bi-2 band, and director Alexander Molochnikov, along with Channel One’s general director Konstantin Ernst, who was named as the director of the so-called “accomplice” project. Vladimir Urin, the director of the Bolshoi Theater, was also mentioned in connection with the same circle of associations.
From GRAD to SHIT
In response, Urgant issued a statement via his Telegram channel. He indicated that he had carefully reviewed the one hour and forty minutes of video material from the first GRAD meeting. He asserted that the emergence of such a group was necessary and that several proposals put forward by participants were timely. He also pledged to contribute to the group’s productive work and offered to provide constructive suggestions in five areas.
Urgant suggested legally allowing close relatives of the blacklisted individuals to be held liable, with possible later waivers. He proposed removing from the market a broad range of Paul McCartney albums except for a specific release, and he called for revisiting cultural branding decisions that reference the past. There was also a suggestion to rename the organization from GRAD to an acronym he proposed as SHIT, short for a controversial phrase, and to adopt a particular song as the group’s anthem, referencing the artist Yaroslav Evdokimov.
Additionally, Urgant proposed a move to remove from the meeting those Just Russia – For Truth members whose conviction had been declared in Moscow’s city court on that day. In the same timeframe, the SRZP deputy Vadim Belousov received a ten-year prison sentence for bribery, a verdict that its party leader described as illegal. Following the blacklist, Urgant shared a Telegram post comparing the attending lawmakers to characters from a famous fantasy series, sparking broad public reaction.
Comments from GRAD members
Dmitry Kuznetsov, the deputy secretary of GRAD, clarified in conversations with socialbites that the target of influence was not the broadcaster Urgant alone but the Channel One leadership, specifically its chief executive. He noted that Urgant, as an artist, is not automatically expected to be a model of patriotism or intellect.
According to Kuznetsov, the real objective is to influence Konstantin Ernst. He described attempts to appeal to Ernst to persuade Urgant to demonstrate loyalty to the country through concrete actions, such as supporting veterans or contributing to the Donbas region. The aim, Kuznetsov said, is to show the public that Urgant aligns with the group’s stance rather than being a reluctant participant. There were further remarks about avoiding escalation by pressuring contractual relations if necessary.
Kuznetsov added that the group views journalists and artists with a paternal attitude, emphasizing that the military and the public deserve a sense of cultural backing during uncertain times. He urged Urgant to travel to Donbass if he sought to understand the truth firsthand. In the meantime, broadcaster Zakhar Prilepin, who attended the GRAD meeting, wrote on Telegram about possible avenues for civic forms of engagement. He suggested that those who oppose the SVO might reveal themselves or lose government contracts, and he encouraged Urgant to consider a trip to Izyum in the Kharkiv region as part of a broader exchange of viewpoints.