Stenyakina introduced this proposal after Elena Yampolskaya, the head of the State Duma Committee on Culture, stated that artists who oppose Russia should have their funding cut and should not lose their titles or state awards. The implication, in Stenyakina’s view, is that such actions are largely inconsequential to them.
She called for a public blacklist that would prevent these individuals from appearing at cultural venues, on federal channels, and from taking part in state-funded projects. The public, she argued, deserves to know who is considered a traitor. In her assessment, this is not censorship but a rational response to what she described as reprehensible behavior.
Deprivation of “food base”
The motive behind Yampolskaya’s statement stemmed from remarks by actor Arthur Smolyaninov. In an interview with a major media outlet, Smolyaninov voiced his readiness to fight on the side of Ukraine against Russia. The remarks drew intense reaction online and among Russian officials. The head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, ordered a criminal case to be opened against the actor. The presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, suggested that the Kremlin disapproved of the actor’s statements.
As the debate over Smolyaninov’s status intensified, discussions emerged about revoking his titles and state awards. It was suggested that those who retain honors would still feel the weight of their influence, which, in the view of Yampolskaya, could be curtailed by removing access to financial support or other “food bases.” The deputy noted that content featuring artists who oppose the Russian Federation and discuss criminal topics should be blocked domestically, with legislators potentially crafting a framework alongside Roskomnadzor.
Enough “postponing”
Back in May, Crimean Senator Sergei Tsekov asserted that the names of artists who left Russia after the start of the special operation should be forgotten altogether and regarded as anti-Russian. He argued that even negative mentions help these artists by keeping them visible, or at least in circulation, and that a new bill would compel media and online platforms to stop mentioning such cultural figures. Those who violated the ban would face penalties outlined in the legislation, according to Tsekov.
State Duma deputy Sergei Burlakov aligned with Tsekov, attributing the ban to the growing celebrity of these artists. He urged an end to what he called inappropriate behavior toward the media and the public from citizens who left the country while continuing to profit from attention in Russia. The sentiment, expressed by Burlakov and others, was that public discourse should reflect a more loyal stance toward national culture and identity.
Some voices pointed to the hypocrisy of artists who left the country yet publicly disparaged it on social networks, while continuing to perform within Russian borders. The counterpoint was that double standards should not be tolerated, and a consistent approach to national culture was warranted. By late autumn, a prominent musician supported the idea, arguing that priority should go to those who actively contribute to the country’s cultural landscape and its promotion abroad within a framework of alignment with national interests.
No – foreign agents
In early November, the musician and State Duma deputy Denis Maidanov brought up artists who have been recognized as foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice. He contended that such figures had lost their place in the Russian information space and should be removed from all platforms, with radio and television channels avoiding their presence and even media coverage being restricted. Maidanov expressed a desire for society to cleanse itself rapidly, while noting that the state would aid in enforcing such measures where media fail to comply.
Ranks – deprivation
On October 28, a Telegram channel reported that the Ministry of Culture had drafted a bill to strip the titles and honors of artists who left Russia after the start of the special operation. The discussion reportedly included possible penalties, such as revoking citizenship. The ministry itself did not confirm these reports, stating that the revocation of awards is already regulated by law and that no new bills were under development. Some figures in the cultural sector, however, voiced support for depriving those who discredited the concept of a national culture of state honors. One artist, a director of a major Moscow circus, suggested depriving the Russian passport from individuals who betrayed national cultural values during the ongoing operations. He argued that culture requires a firm response to restore order, and that such cultural figures should lose state awards and the status of folk artists.