Russian TV Debates Stall as Candidates Fail to Appear

Russian TV debates have begun airing, but candidates have largely stayed silent. Russian law mandates that state‑run channels allocate at least half of their political airtime to joint events such as debates, yet the 2026 State Duma campaign has seen a dearth of substantive discussion. In Ryazan, Russia 1 spent two days trying to secure candidates for a studio debate, only to broadcast empty lecterns. In Buryatia, Communist Party candidate Bair Tsyrenov appeared briefly before the feed cut to a government meeting with Prime Minister Mishustin. Other participants, like Direct Democracy’s Alexey Chernov, offered a 25‑second answer before remaining silent for 35 seconds. Recordings are often deleted at the request of copyright holders, leaving live viewership as the only reliable source. The absence of real debate questions the transparency of Russia’s electoral process.