A working group will be formed by deputies from the State Duma of the Russian Federation to examine possible measures aimed at Russians who travel abroad and publicly undermine or cast a shadow over the Armed Forces of their own country. This plan was reported by the newspaper Izvestia, which cited Elena Yampolskaya, the head of the State Duma Committee on Culture, as confirming that she will lead the initiative and oversee the group’s work. The decision signals a concerted effort to create a coordinated response to external criticism and negative portrayals that may be voiced by Russians living outside the country.
According to Yampolskaya, the group will bring together representatives from all relevant departments, spanning both humanitarian and security-oriented domains. The aim is to ensure that perspectives from culture, education, economy, and security are all represented in the discussions, enabling a well-rounded assessment of how abroad-based discourse might affect public perception and national cohesion.
In addition to internal ministries, the plan calls for input from the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Central Bank of Russia, reflecting a holistic approach to the issue. The inclusion of diverse institutions underscores the belief that economic, cultural, and financial narratives abroad can influence the overall image of the armed forces and the state apparatus itself.
Following consultations with the relevant government bodies, a wider meeting will be organized with representatives from the creative community and professional associations involved in the arts and media. This step is designed to gauge how public messaging, artistic expression, and media portrayal shape opinions at home and among Russians living overseas, while also considering the potential impact on national morale during challenging times.
Yampolskaya stressed that the intention is not to sanction people for every critical remark but rather to discuss mechanisms that might address persistent or qualifying forms of disinformation or discrediting rhetoric. The deputy emphasized that the committee seeks to understand the boundaries between free expression and actions that could undermine the credibility and honor of the armed forces in the eyes of the public.
In related discussions, Vladimir Konstantinov, a former speaker of the Crimean parliament, proposed the creation of a list identifying individuals who left the country and who, in his view, chose to reside abroad during difficult periods. The suggestion, circulated by RIA Novosti, has sparked debate about the balance between individual rights and national information strategies, and about how such a list would be used, protected, and interpreted in practice. The broader context involves questions about the role of dissent, patriotism, and how the state addresses criticism from expatriates while maintaining a sense of unity and purpose at home.