A member of the Federation Council’s constitutional committee, Alexander Bashkin, stated that the Zhirinovsky neural network cannot take part in a presidential election. The reason given is straightforward: the network does not possess Russian citizenship. This point underscores a fundamental rule in Russian electoral law: only citizens of the Russian Federation may participate in party activities or stand as candidates for elective positions. According to Bashkin, even extraordinary artificial or inanimate entities—whether a computer, a bear, or a car—do not qualify as party members or candidates.
Earlier, Leonid Slutsky, who heads the LDPR faction, suggested that the Zhirinovsky neural network might still receive a party nomination at the LDPR’s forthcoming congress. This possibility sparked debate about the boundaries between political participation and artificial intelligence, prompting discussions on what constitutes a legitimate political actor within party processes.
On June 15, the LDPR channel opened a registration page inviting public views about the Zhirinovsky neural network, an event following the neural network’s earlier appearance at SPIEF 2023. The presentation of the Zhirinovsky model at that forum was noted as part of ongoing experiments in leveraging AI for public discourse and political communication, a trend observed by observers and analysts alike. (Attribution: LDPR communications and industry observers)
In related background, a curious anecdote circulated about a resident of the Philippines who prayed to a Shrek figurine for four years, only to discover that the figurine was not a Buddha. This tale, while unrelated to formal electoral law, illustrates the broader fascination and varied interpretations people attach to symbolic figures and their perceived authority. (Attribution: regional news briefs)