12:24 06-11-2025

West Plans Smear Campaign Against Russian Military Candidates

© Dasha Sysoeva

Western-backed activists plan a smear campaign against Russian special operation veterans running for the State Duma in 2026, warns MP Vasily Piskarev.

Western networks are preparing a large-scale campaign to discredit participants of Russia’s special military operation who intend to run for seats in the State Duma. The warning came from Vasily Piskarev, head of the parliamentary commission investigating foreign interference in Russia’s internal affairs. He noted that the effort will be carried out mainly by individuals recognized as foreign agents.

Piskarev said the topic of «sabotage» at next year’s parliamentary elections has become a central item on the agenda of anti-Russian émigré groups. According to him, these circles have moved beyond their usual attempts to discredit the electoral lists of United Russia and are now planning a targeted offensive against candidates who took part in the special military operation.

The deputy explained that this strategy was formalized in a resolution adopted at a recent Brussels conference attended by foreign agents, extremists, representatives of banned organizations, and members of the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Piskarev emphasized that preparations for this campaign are already underway. He described the participants as «renegades» seeking to attract attention from their Western sponsors in hopes of securing funding. According to him, only those who prove most «malicious and inventive» in denigrating their homeland will receive support.

The next elections to the State Duma are scheduled for Russia’s Unified Voting Day on September 20, 2026.