Report on the monitoring of federal television channels during the eleventh week (24–30 August 2026) of the election campaign for the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the IX convocation, scheduled for 20 September 2026
The “Atlas of Elections” project has launched a weekly monitoring programme of federal television channels during the State Duma election period. We will track how equally the activities of election participants are covered on state-controlled federal television channels.
Television remains one of the main sources of information for many Russians. At the same time, society entrusts the media with a special role — they are responsible for creating the conditions for citizens to engage in public political discussion. Both the Russian Constitution and many international covenants require the media to adopt 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.
Main conclusions for the eleventh week of the campaign
The main feature of the past week was a sharp decline in federal television channels’ interest in the election agenda. The volume of airtime that the channels devoted to parties fell threefold compared to the previous week and was the lowest in the last month. The 2026 campaign is being covered by federal television channels several times less than the 2021 campaign. The editorial policy of the channels has returned to “basic settings” — “drying up turnout” by all means.
Against this backdrop, United Russia’s media presence remained the most extensive among the parties. Unlike the previous week, when a significant portion of attention was focused on the party congress and Vladimir Putin’s speech, attention has now shifted to the current activities of candidates and party projects. Coverage of United Russia’s work was built around the public activities of the federal list leaders — Vladislav Golovin and Yevgeny Poddubny, the work of the party’s women’s movement, assistance to participants in the special military operation (SMO) and the development of volunteer projects, as well as the preparation and implementation of the party’s previously presented programme. Dmitry Medvedev’s activities formed a separate information block. In an NTV story devoted to the electoral prospects of the parties, United Russia was named the leader in voter preference polls.
An important change in the eleventh week was the appearance on air of the Green party, whose election programme had previously not been in the channels’ field of vision, but now received substantive coverage on two of them at once. At the same time, the Greens’ proposals closely resemble those of New People — in addition to environmental topics, the party’s ideas on supporting small business, combating domestic violence and urban improvement were actively covered. This could potentially lower New People’s ratings.
The LDPR and A Just Russia practically swapped their main themes. Now the SRs devoted considerable attention to combating migration, while the LDPR focused entirely on the social agenda.
The CPRF and New People were also actively present on air; the agenda was predominantly shaped by party initiatives and election proposals. For the CPRF, the key themes were the dispatch of a humanitarian convoy, the party’s previously presented programme and Gennady Zyuganov’s meetings with young people. New People placed emphasis on election observation, migration policy, initiatives on the possibility of multiple retakes of the Unified State Exam (USE) and a subscription for car window tinting.
Number and content of news stories
In the eleventh week of the election campaign, all six federal channels demonstrated a sharp decline in interest in the election agenda, which was especially noticeable against the backdrop of the previous week’s record figures. On Channel One and NTV, the share of news bulletins with election stories more than halved; on TVC, it fell more than threefold; and on Channel Five, it fell threefold.
The total time allocated to election stories also fell more than threefold: 89 minutes compared to 278 minutes a week earlier. This is the worst figure for the last month, i.e. since the elections emerged from their July “hibernation”. This situation differs radically from the 2021 campaign, when television channels, on the contrary, increased the airtime devoted to the elections, and by the end of August their figures were constantly growing, exceeding the current ones several times over.
In the past week, the OTR channel paid no attention to the parties at all. The coverage of party activities was not distinguished by diversity in general. Only New People received airtime on five channels. Even United Russia, like the CPRF and the LDPR, was ignored by two channels — OTR and Channel Five. A Just Russia managed to attract the attention of Channel One, Russia 1 and TVC; the Party of Direct Democracy and the Greens appeared on Russia 1 and TVC; the remaining three parties appeared only on Russia 1.
Distribution of airtime between parties
As before, the television channels’ attention to the parties was distributed unevenly. Over the last six weeks, the greatest attention — both in terms of the number of mentions and the volume of airtime — was occupied by stories about United Russia.
In the eleventh week, the total airtime allocated to the “party of power” amounted to slightly less than 35 minutes — six times less than a week earlier, but still more than any other party.
As before, non-parliamentary parties received several times less airtime than parliamentary ones. Nevertheless, for the Greens, the eleventh week was unusually successful in this regard: for the first time, stories about the party were allocated more than five minutes of airtime — that is, more than in the previous ten weeks combined.
United Russia also leads in terms of average story length — it was the only one to receive stories averaging more than one minute in length.
Tone of mentions
As before, United Russia remains the leader in positive coverage, followed by the CPRF and New People. Non-parliamentary parties, if they managed to get on air, received exclusively neutral coverage.
After the Yabloko party was excluded from the election race and the stories devoted to it disappeared from the television airwaves, the negative tone vanished completely, replaced by a consistently positive-neutral intonation.
News pegs of the week
United Russia
Despite the overall decline in attention to the election agenda, federal television channels reported in detail on the work of United Russia. The main themes were the activities of the leaders of the party’s federal list, the “People’s Programme”, support for women and families, assistance to SMO participants, volunteer activities and military-patriotic education.
Channel One covered support for women within the framework of the party project “You Are Not Alone”, assistance to SMO participants and the work of volunteers in the regions, including in territories affected by natural disasters. Special attention was given to the leader of United Russia’s election list, Vladislav Golovin: the channel reported on his participation in a pedagogical forum in Kirov, where issues of youth upbringing and educational development were discussed. Some of the stories about Golovin were broadcast as repeats.
Russia 1 covered the public activities of the party’s leaders and candidates in the most detail. Dmitry Medvedev met with activists of the party’s women’s movement. The focus was on supporting families and women, helping the army, raising children and the role of the family. Vladislav Golovin discussed the “People’s Programme” with activists, veterans and journalists in Kirov Oblast, and spoke about patriotic education and support for teachers at a pedagogical conference. Yevgeny Poddubny spoke at a modern journalism forum in Sochi, where he talked about professional standards and protecting society from destructive information, and also participated in a conference of the party’s regional branch in Petrozavodsk. The work of United Russia volunteers was covered separately.
The channel also reported on the approval of a new programme for the party’s Moscow Oblast branch, including proposals on urban improvement, housing and utilities, healthcare and road infrastructure.
NTV focused attention on the party’s social and political initiatives. Activists of United Russia’s women’s movement proposed granting SMO participants additional leave for rehabilitation and adaptation; Dmitry Medvedev supported this initiative. Vladislav Golovin met with veterans, mothers and wives of SMO participants, youth associations and teachers. Yevgeny Poddubny spoke about the possible increase in the number of SMO veterans in the new State Duma and linked their entry into politics with increasing the state’s resilience. Maria Lvova-Belova visited Ryazan Oblast, where she discussed support for young families, the organisation of children’s recreation and the work of family centres.
TVC focused primarily on the activities of Yevgeny Poddubny and Vladislav Golovin. Poddubny spoke at the modern journalism forum “All Russia-2026”. Golovin took part in the all-Russian gathering of young activists of the “Post No. 1” movement. In addition, the channel reported that more than 30 SMO participants had become party volunteers.
CPRF
For the CPRF, the main news pegs were the dispatch of a humanitarian convoy, public appearances by Gennady Zyuganov, meetings of party representatives with young people, and the promotion of the previously presented “Programme of Victory”.
Channel One reported on Gennady Zyuganov’s visit to the Lenin State Farm and the party’s preparation of a humanitarian convoy. The channel also covered the CPRF chairman’s meeting with young people and bloggers. On air, Zyuganov spoke about the significance of the party’s programme and the importance of supporting the CPRF in the elections, as well as the party’s assistance to SMO participants.
Russia 1 covered in detail the dispatch of the CPRF’s 159th humanitarian convoy to the SMO zone and border regions. The materials listed food, water, medicines, construction materials, motorcycles, cars, drones and thermal imaging sights. Gennady Zyuganov stressed the importance of supplying the front to achieve victory.
Separate stories were devoted to the CPRF’s participation in debates on education and personnel training issues. The party advocated increasing state spending on education, raising teachers’ salaries and expanding social support for educators.
There was also a story about Zyuganov’s meeting with young people and bloggers, at which internet blockages, online threats and the party’s “Programme of Victory” were discussed.
TVC also reported on the dispatch of humanitarian aid to the SMO zone. In direct speech, Zyuganov spoke about distributing the “Programme of Victory” among SMO participants and characterised the upcoming elections as a choice of a “course for victory”. In addition, the channel covered the meeting of CPRF representatives with young people and bloggers and the presentation of the party programme.
NTV mentioned the CPRF in a story about a round table devoted to the elections. The material reported that, according to poll data, the party occupies third place in the electoral rating, sharing it with New People.
New People
In the past week, the party received standalone stories on air on five of the six federal television channels. The main themes were the training of observers, the initiative on retaking the USE, the proposal for paid car window tinting and migration policy.
Channel One covered the start of work of New People’s observer headquarters, the initiative to introduce an annual subscription for tinting car front windows, and the proposal to expand the possibility of retaking the USE. The creation of observer headquarters, whose task the party calls ensuring the honest conduct of elections, was reported separately.
Russia 1 covered the party’s work on training observers in the most detail. Alexei Nechaev launched the work of the headquarters and held an online meeting with voters and volunteers. Plans were mentioned to deploy about 90,000 observers and open headquarters in 82 regions.
In addition, the channel reported on the party’s proposals on migration policy, presented at debates by Yaroslav Samylin. Among them are increasing the cost of a patent and migration registration, strengthening the liability of organisers of illegal migration and creating a unified digital migrant registration system.
The channel also reported on the party’s initiative to make car tinting paid, as well as the proposal to expand the possibility of retaking the USE. Party candidates visited the Centre for Bioengineering of the Southern Federal University and met with students who had used the right to retake the exam.
NTV mentioned New People in a story about political ratings. The party, together with the CPRF, was presented as occupying third place in the electoral rating according to poll data.
TVC covered the training of observers, including a video link-up with the party’s regional offices. The channel also reported on the “Women of Russia” session, reported on an action in support of the tinting subscription and the initiative to further expand the right to retake the USE. It was separately reported that the CEC had excluded one of the party’s candidates from the federal list.
Channel Five reported on New People’s work on training observers for the elections.
LDPR
The main themes for the LDPR this week were social and family policy, the “Pensioners of Russia” programme, and the development of Siberia and the Far East.
Channel One covered the LDPR’s All-Russian Women’s Forum “Uniting Experience, Creating the Future”. In the stories, Leonid Slutsky spoke about improving the quality of life for women and supporting motherhood. Special attention was paid to the “Pensioners of Russia” programme and the problem of differences in the standard of living of elderly people in the regions. Slutsky also took part in the “Strong Ideas for a New Time” forum.
Russia 1 reported in detail on the LDPR’s social initiatives. The focus was on supporting families and women, the criteria for assigning the unified benefit and the need to take into account receipts into bank accounts when assessing family income.
The channel also reported on a study of pensioners’ living standards and the “Pensioners of Russia” programme, which includes 80 points and is designed for the period up to 2032.
Within the framework of the women’s forum, support for young mothers, women entrepreneurs, family health and assistance to the families of SMO participants were discussed. Among the party’s proposals are expanding psychological support for the families of missing persons, a special salary for mothers with many children, increased support for workers caring for disabled children, and a “people’s mortgage” at 3%.
In addition, Russia 1 reported on the LDPR’s participation in debates with Rodina on Mayak Radio and Vesti FM, where education, the labour market, youth employment and the protection of citizens’ rights in the context of artificial intelligence development were discussed.
A separate story was devoted to the party’s proposed programme for the industrialisation of Siberia and the Far East, envisaging the development of shipbuilding, ship repair, mechanical engineering, robotics and the processing of resources within the regions.
NTV mentioned the LDPR in a story about political ratings. According to poll materials, the party took second place in the electoral rating.
TVC covered the initiatives of the LDPR’s women’s association, presented on the eve of the All-Russian Women’s Forum. In particular, it reported on the proposal to set a minimum pension income of no less than two minimum wages and to abandon the pension points system. In addition, the channel reported on the initiative to create a ministry for women, family and children, as well as the programme for the new industrialisation of Siberia and the Far East.
A Just Russia
The main theme of A Just Russia’s coverage was migration policy. In addition, social initiatives, support for families and the activities of Sergei Mironov and other party representatives were covered on air.
Channel One and Russia 1 covered A Just Russia’s migration agenda in the most detail. Party representatives advocated large-scale legislative changes, including the abolition of patents, restricting the entry of migrants’ family members, introducing a duty on money transfers abroad and transitioning to the targeted recruitment of foreign specialists for specific vacancies and employers.
The party’s proposals in the sphere of family policy and support for traditional values were also presented on air. A Just Russia representatives advocated payments to young mothers and tax reductions for mother-entrepreneurs.
A separate news peg was the injury Sergei Mironov sustained during a trip to Altai Krai. In connection with this, part of his campaign work was transferred to Alexander Babakov and other party representatives.
In Transbaikalia, party candidates met with SMO veterans and their families. Local engineers also handed over electronic warfare devices they had developed to the party for dispatch to the front.
TVC reported on State Duma deputy Alexei Chepa’s meeting with voters in Pskov and his criticism of a formal approach to citizens’ appeals. In addition, the channel reported on the party’s agreement with the Federal Chamber of Lawyers, which includes, among other things, the provision of free consultations.
Greens
In the eleventh week of the campaign, the Greens received noticeable coverage on federal airwaves for the first time, primarily due to mentions on Russia 1 and TVC. The main themes were environmental monitoring, combating domestic violence, urban improvement and supporting business in small towns and villages.
The party proposed making data on water and air quality publicly available within the framework of a public environmental monitoring system.
In St Petersburg, the Greens held a discussion on the problem of domestic violence. During the discussion, various positions were voiced regarding the need for legislative regulation in this sphere.
In Moscow, party representatives conducted a raid on courtyards, assessing the availability of dog-walking areas and the condition of sandpits. Based on its results, the party proposed increasing the number of dog-walking areas.
In addition, the Greens advocated creating special conditions for business in small towns and villages. In Ryazan Oblast, the party sent an appeal to environmental protection bodies demanding that those responsible be identified and damages recovered for the discharge of untreated sewage into a water body.
The TVC channel also briefly reported that the CEC had excluded one candidate from the party’s federal list.
Party of Pensioners
The main news peg was a meeting between party chairman Erik Prazdnikov and voters in Moscow Oblast, where he presented the election “Programme for a Normal Life”. The programme includes seven proposals designed for different generations; among the topics discussed were pensions, utility tariffs, and issues related to children and grandchildren. Thus, the main theses of the party’s election programme were voiced on television for the first time.
In addition, the Party of Pensioners was mentioned as a participant in debates on traditional values and family support.
The TVC channel reported that the CEC had excluded one party candidate from the federal list.
Rodina, Communists of Russia, Party of Direct Democracy
The Rodina party, Communists of Russia and the Party of Direct Democracy received a brief mention on Russia 1 in connection with their participation in debates on social protection, medicine and education.
The TVC channel also reported that the CEC had excluded one candidate from the Party of Direct Democracy from the federal list.
Stories about the work of the CEC
In the 11th week, stories directly about election preparations occupied a prominent place on federal television airwaves. The main themes were early voting, REV, voting abroad, ballot preparation, election observation and information security.
Channel One reported on election preparations in the regions, Ella Pamfilova’s call to treat election information carefully, the dispatch of ballots abroad and the start of early voting. Voting by residents of remote territories, shift workers, ship crews and military personnel was reported separately.
Russia 1 covered in detail the issues of organising voting and information security. The stories spoke about possible attempts to destabilise the situation before the elections, the work of parties with voters and observers, the organisation of voting abroad and the preparation of additional ballots for Chukotka.
Ella Pamfilova reported that more than 2.5 million Russians had submitted applications for online voting. She also spoke about approximately 200 candidates who are SMO participants taking part in the State Duma elections, and about 300,000 “fake” publications on social networks.
In addition, the channel covered the start of early voting in remote areas, at polar stations, among shift workers, ship crews and military personnel. It was planned to open more than 300 polling stations in 52 countries for voting abroad.
NTV covered early voting in remote regions, including for shift workers, polar station employees, ship crews and military personnel. The channel also showed a repeat of this story. A separate piece was devoted to a round table with analysts and political scientists discussing the positions of the main political players and election forecasts.
OTR reported on the start of printing ballot papers in Khabarovsk Krai. The story also mentioned the president’s position on the importance of holding elections.
Methodology
Six federal television channels that are part of the first multiplex and enjoy the greatest popularity among viewers were selected for the media monitoring — Channel One, Russia 1, NTV, TV Centre, Channel Five, OTR.
On each of the six television channels, news bulletins available in video archives were analysed. During the eleventh week of the election campaign, from 24 to 30 August 2026, 217 news bulletins were studied (Channel One — 34 bulletins, Russia 1 — 32 bulletins, NTV — 36 bulletins, TVC — 29 bulletins, OTR — 61 bulletins, Channel Five — 25 bulletins).
We analysed each news bulletin for the presence of stories about political parties. If stories 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 of voters’ opinions about the parties in the story;
· the characteristics of the parties voiced by the presenter or voiceover.