Monitoring report on federal television channels in the ninth week (10–16 August) of the election campaign for the deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the IX convocation, scheduled for 20 September 2026
The Atlas of Elections project has launched a weekly monitoring programme for federal television channels during the State Duma deputy elections. We will track how equal the coverage of election participants' activities is on state-controlled federal television channels.
Television remains one of the main sources of information for many Russians. At the same time, society assigns the media a special role — they are responsible for creating conditions for citizens to conduct public political discussion. Both the Russian Constitution and many international covenants require the media to take ethical and balanced positions and to cover the election process in a fair, balanced and impartial manner. Media representatives must not engage in campaigning.
The results of the media monitoring are published weekly.
The main event of the past week was the Supreme Court hearing of the Rodina party's lawsuit to cancel the registration of the federal list of candidates nominated by the Yabloko party.
Main findings for the ninth week of the campaign
The main news event of the ninth week was the Supreme Court's decision to cancel the registration of the Yabloko party's federal list for the State Duma elections. The topic was covered in detail by Channel One, Russia 1, OTR, TVC and Channel Five. The reports cited possible foreign funding, violations of campaigning and copyright legislation, and signs of extremism as grounds for the lawsuit and the cancellation of registration. At the same time, Yabloko representatives, as in the previous week, were not given the opportunity to present their position. Instead, the airwaves carried statements by representatives of the CEC, Rosfinmonitoring and the Rodina party.
Despite how dramatically the election campaign events unfolded this week, the number of mentions on television decreased substantially for all parties without exception. The television channels preferred to somewhat dampen interest in the campaign. Substantial attention was given only to United Russia. The reports covered in detail the participation of the party's candidates in events related to supporting participants in the special military operation, military-patriotic education, assistance to veterans and the development of social infrastructure. A special place was occupied by interviews with Yevgeny Poddubny, Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Sobyanin given to the TASS agency, which touched on issues of historical memory, sovereignty and the country's long-term development.
Overall, the ninth week was characterised by a noticeable difference in the tone of coverage of political parties. United Russia and its candidates received positive and extensive coverage, accompanied by a significant amount of direct speech from party representatives. The CPRF, the LDPR, New People and A Just Russia were mainly mentioned in connection with the parties' public initiatives, working trips and public appearances by their representatives. Their activities were covered predominantly in a positive or neutral manner. A pronounced negative tone was present exclusively in reports related to the Yabloko party. The airwaves discussed in detail the claims against the party from other political forces, as well as the Supreme Court's decision to cancel the registration of its federal list.
In covering the work of the Russian CEC, the television channels, as before, continued to focus primarily on the technical and organisational aspects of the election campaign: approval of the ballot text and appearance, organisation of voting abroad, and remote electronic voting.
Number and content of news reports
As in the previous week, the number and volume of news reports devoted to the elections changed differently on different television channels. The largest increase in attention to the elections was shown by Russia 1, which raised the share of election reports almost fourfold: from 16% to 62% of the news airtime. The share of election reports on NTV increased by almost 3%. The other federal channels included in our study showed a sharp decline in attention to this topic.
The total duration of election reports also decreased on all channels except Russia 1 and TVC. In total, election reports received seven minutes less this week than the week before: 100 minutes compared with 107 minutes.
The diversity of television channels covering party activities also decreased. Unlike the previous week, when all parties were mentioned and on a large number of television channels, this time the situation was fundamentally different. Only Yabloko, which was removed from the elections, received attention from five television channels at once (only NTV ignored the unique situation of a party's registration being cancelled in federal elections). But even the plaintiff — Rodina — was mentioned on only three television channels, as if such an important event had not occurred on its initiative. Some parties were left without attention altogether.
Distribution of airtime between parties
The number of mentions on television decreased substantially for all parties without exception. United Russia remains the absolute leader in the number of mentions among parties, although even for it the number of mentions decreased by 22% compared with the previous week. Among non-parliamentary parties, as in the previous week, Yabloko was mentioned most often on air, while the Party of Pensioners, Communists of Russia, the Party of Direct Democracy and the Greens were not mentioned at all.
Despite the public significance of the court decision to remove the party from the elections, attention to Yabloko on television did not grow, but on the contrary decreased by 40%. The total airtime allocated to reports about Yabloko was even less than in the previous week — only six minutes. This is 10 times less than the airtime the television channels allocated to covering the pre-election agenda and public appearances by United Russia candidates. The Rodina party was mentioned on air only in connection with criticism of Yabloko. Other non-parliamentary parties received no airtime this week.
The average duration of reports also proved telling. United Russia retains an obvious lead on this indicator — reports about it are the most substantive. But due to the cancellation of the registration of Yabloko's list, the average time of a report about the party grew almost 3.5 times (the second-highest figure among all parties) — the television channels enumerated the claims against the party in detail. The parliamentary parties, except A Just Russia, also received almost a minute on average each.
Tone of mentions
The previous week was characterised by a sharp change in the tone of party coverage on air: the Yabloko party came under criticism. The ninth week of the election campaign also showed a record increase in the number of negative statements about Yabloko: they accounted for 66% of all mentions of the party on air. No other party received negative assessments on air. United Russia remains the leader in the number of positive mentions: more than 78% of the total number of mentions on air were positive.
The tone rating (calculated as the difference between positive and negative comments) vividly shows the turning point that occurred in the information strategy of federal television channels over the past two weeks. Probably, after the final cancellation of the registration of Yabloko's list, the storm will subside and a positive-neutral calm will return.
News events of the week
United Russia
The main news events for United Russia in the ninth week of the election campaign were public appearances by representatives of the party's top five candidates, the participation of candidates in military-patriotic and social events, and the preparation of the party's new programme.
A meeting of the United Russia expert council devoted to preparing the party's programme until 2031 was held in the Moscow region. Dmitry Medvedev noted that the document is being formed on the basis of citizens' proposals. According to him, the party received about 3 million appeals concerning the accessibility of medicine and education, social infrastructure and an environmentally safe environment.
Yevgeny Poddubny, who entered the top five of United Russia's leaders in the State Duma elections, gave a long interview to TASS Director General Andrei Kondrashov. On Channel One and Russia 1, Poddubny was presented as the leader of United Russia's election list. His statements about the party as a political force linked to Vladimir Putin, as well as about the priorities of the party's new programme, were widely quoted on air. Among the key topics named were the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, the protection of traditional values and the development of the state over the long term. Poddubny's statements about the role of special military operation veterans and their participation in state and public life were covered separately.
Poddubny also visited Tambov Oblast, where he met with special military operation veterans, volunteers and civic activists. He spoke about social support measures for servicemen returning from the front and stressed that the state is already forming a system of assistance for veterans. The reports covered the activities of a branch of the Defenders of the Fatherland foundation and the United Russia Public Support Headquarters.
Another member of United Russia's top five candidates, Vladislav Golovin, spoke at the Zarnitsa 2.0 military-patriotic game with a speech about instilling responsibility in young people, the state's defence capability and the formation of sovereignty. In another report, Golovin took part in a discussion on the development of military technologies and proposed creating a federal-level system of support for small enterprises and volunteer workshops producing goods for the front. He also noted that a number of such initiatives have already been supported by the party.
Maria Lvova-Belova visited the Mashuk All-Russian Youth Forum. The main attention was given to the protection of teenagers and the creation of spaces where young people in difficult life situations can receive support from specialists and mentors. Lvova-Belova also spoke about the implementation of the Pereprava project for teenagers in difficult life circumstances.
Also shown on air was an interview with Sergei Lavrov, Sergei Sobyanin and Yevgeny Poddubny given to the TASS agency. In the interview excerpts, the emphasis was placed on the historical confrontation with Nazism, the significance of the victory and the country's historical experience. The presentation of the material was emotionally positive and dramatic.
CPRF
The main news events for the CPRF were Gennady Zyuganov's trip to Belarus and meeting with Alexander Lukashenko, the party leader's participation in a children's beekeeping competition, and commemorative events dedicated to Fidel Castro.
Channel One and Russia 1 reported on Zyuganov's visit to Minsk. He met with Alexander Lukashenko and presented him with the Lenin Prize of the CPRF Central Committee for services to the development of the Union State. The airwaves positively assessed relations between Russia and Belarus, and Zyuganov called Belarus an example for the post-Soviet space and praised Lukashenko for preserving "the best of the Soviet era". Russia 1 also mentioned the development of cooperation between the two countries, including in the agricultural sphere.
Channel One also showed Zyuganov's participation in the international competition "The Bee and the Human. Children". The announcer spoke about the CPRF leader's long-standing interest in beekeeping. Zyuganov spoke about the significance of beekeeping and demography, and also presented the party's programme to the competition participants. He separately noted that honey and other beekeeping products are regularly sent to Russian servicemen in the special military operation zone. At the end of his speech, Zyuganov linked the elections to the protection of nature and support for people who "work honestly and with dignity".
Another news event was the participation of Gennady Zyuganov and CPRF representatives in commemorative events dedicated to the centenary of Fidel Castro's birth. The party leader gave a speech in which he called Castro a symbol of courage, dignity, the struggle for sovereignty and real independence. Zyuganov also spoke about his personal meetings with Castro and their joint work in the Soviet era.
LDPR
The main news events for the LDPR were the party's social initiatives, support for special military operation participants and residents of border territories, and Leonid Slutsky's working trips.
Channel One covered the LDPR's initiative to combat problems in the housing and utilities sector. Issues of supporting servicemen after returning from the front were also discussed in detail. Slutsky spoke about the need to provide veterans with jobs, medical and psychological rehabilitation, prosthetics and the removal of bureaucratic barriers. Ten round tables devoted to supporting special military operation participants were held as part of the party's forum.
Leonid Slutsky's trip to Kursk Oblast received significant attention on television. There he met with residents of border districts who had left their homes because of shelling and discussed the problems of evacuation, loss of housing and obtaining compensation. The LDPR proposed extending the status of special military operation participants to defenders of border territories so that they could receive similar benefits and social payments. Slutsky also spoke about the need for comprehensive medical, psychological, social and labour rehabilitation.
A Russia 1 report covered Slutsky's trip to the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, where he visited an Active Longevity Centre. He advocated the adoption of the party programme "Pensioners of Russia" and stated the need for state subsidies and guarantees for the purchase of medicines for low-income citizens.
In Altai Krai, Slutsky proposed leaving 25% of the transport tax in the budgets of small towns for road construction.
On 12 August, the first civic forum "Influence the authorities with the LDPR" was held in Moscow. According to Slutsky, the party brought together about 1,500 public organisations ready to participate in solving pressing problems. Among the forum's proposals were compensation for relatives of seriously wounded special military operation participants, a nationwide road repair programme and a federal standard for an active longevity programme.
New People
The main news events for New People were the party's social initiatives and events devoted to active longevity.
Russia 1 and Channel Five covered the Silver Rave active longevity festival organised by the party, which was held in Moscow Oblast. The event included master classes, a fair for older entrepreneurs and a disco. Channel One reported on the party's proposals to provide pensioners with discounts on attending concerts, theatre performances and exhibitions, and to change housing standards to take into account the needs of elderly people.
Another news event was the opening of a support centre for single parents in Saransk. In such headquarters, women will be able to receive legal and psychological consultations. It was reported that the corresponding bill has been prepared and is planned for consideration in the autumn session of the State Duma.
A Just Russia
The main news events for A Just Russia were the working trips and speeches of party chairman Sergei Mironov, as well as the party's social initiatives.
Sergei Mironov took part in laying flowers at the monument to special military operation heroes in Kudrovo, Leningrad Oblast, and gave a speech about the party's initiatives in the social sphere. He stressed the possibility of influencing government decisions and cited the return of pension indexation for working pensioners as an example.
In Perm, Mironov also laid wreaths at the monument to paratroopers together with veterans and special military operation participants. In his speech, he stressed the need to raise wages and pensions, and also spoke about the importance of more active participation by special military operation veterans in the patriotic education of schoolchildren.
In addition, Mironov held a meeting with party activists in St Petersburg, where he spoke about the progress of the election campaign. During a meeting with local residents in Kudrovo, he also stressed the importance of supporting large families.
Yabloko
The main and only news event for Yabloko was the Supreme Court's decision, which on 10 August upheld the Rodina party's lawsuit to cancel the registration of Yabloko's list of candidates for the State Duma deputy elections. The process was covered by Channel One, Russia 1, OTR, TVC and Channel Five.
Channel One reported that Rodina's lawsuit was related to possible foreign funding of the party, the distribution of campaign materials through foreign social networks and copyright violations during campaigning.
Russia 1 also reported on the cancellation of the registration of Yabloko's federal list by the Supreme Court. In the report, a representative of the Russian CEC referred to Rosfinmonitoring data on possible foreign funding through third parties from the United States and Germany. Copyright violations and signs of extremism were mentioned separately.
OTR and TVC reported on the Supreme Court's consideration and subsequent decision. Channel Five covered Rodina's lawsuit in detail, and after the hearing reported that the decision would be appealed by Yabloko representatives.
Thus, Yabloko's presence on air this week was entirely determined by the court proceedings and contained predominantly negative tone. The claims of the Rodina party were discussed in detail on television, but, as in the previous week, Yabloko representatives were not given the opportunity to respond to the criticism.
Rodina
The only news event for the Rodina party was the court case against Yabloko.
Channel One and Russia 1 reported that Rodina had appealed to the Supreme Court demanding the cancellation of the registration of Yabloko's federal list, citing possible foreign funding, copyright violations and signs of extremism. Channel Five also reported on the party's lawsuit in detail.
After the case was considered, the Supreme Court upheld Rodina's demands and cancelled the registration of Yabloko's federal list. Thanks to this news event, Rodina representatives received a noticeable presence on air.
Party of Direct Democracy, the Greens, Communists of Russia
The Party of Direct Democracy, the Greens and Communists of Russia received no substantive coverage on federal television in the ninth week of the campaign.
Reports on the work of the Russian CEC
The main events related to the work of the Russian CEC were again the technical details of the election process: approval of the ballot text and appearance, organisation of voting abroad, remote electronic voting, participation of special military operation veterans in the elections and security issues.
Russia 1 reported on the Russian CEC meeting at which the ballot text and appearance were approved. Ella Pamfilova spoke separately about the logistical difficulties of organising the elections. Other reports covered the opening of polling stations abroad and the problems that unfriendly states may create for voting by Russian citizens.
Separate attention was given to the participation of special military operation veterans in the elections. The Russian CEC reported on 199 candidates — participants in or veterans of the special military operation — taking part in the election campaign. Pamfilova also warned about fraudsters who use the election theme to extract personal data through messaging apps.
TVC covered the possibility of remote electronic voting. OTR reported on events aimed at informing citizens about the elections, including a competition for election organisers in Kemerovo.
Channel Five reported that after the cancellation of Yabloko's registration, the number of registered parties decreased from 11 to 10, in connection with which the CEC would probably have to adjust the already approved ballot text.
Methodology
Six federal television channels included in the first multiplex and enjoying the greatest popularity among viewers were selected for the media monitoring — Channel One, Russia 1, NTV, TV Centre, Channel Five and OTR.
On each of the six television channels, news broadcasts available in video archives were analysed. For the seventh week of the election campaign, from 27 July to 2 August 2026, 220 news broadcasts were studied (Channel One — 38 broadcasts, Russia 1 — 32 broadcasts, NTV — 37 broadcasts, TVC — 28 broadcasts, OTR — 61 broadcasts, Channel Five — 24 broadcasts).
We analysed each news broadcast for the presence of reports about political parties. If reports about parties were present, we were interested in the following indicators:
the number of mentions of the party;
the time allocated to the party;
the tone of the information (positive, neutral, negative);
the presence of direct speech by party representatives;
the presence in the report of voters' opinions about the parties;
the characteristics of the parties voiced by the announcer or voice-over.