Why is Kremlin promoting participants in the war against Ukraine participants to the State Duma
kremlin continues to simulate concern for the so-called “veterans” of the “smo” (special military operation), whom propaganda has designated as the “new elite of the country.”
▫️russian media report that by 2026, around 70-80 “smo veterans” are expected to enter the state duma through programs like “vremya geroev” (“time of heroes”). They will ensure the “renewal of the parliamentary corps.” Additionally, they plan to introduce benefits for “smo veterans” when applying for positions in government bodies, furthering the “elite renewal.”
These publicity-stunt initiatives are primarily a public imitation of concern for “veterans,” aimed at creating the illusion of a “social lift” through participation in the war against Ukraine. The vast majority of russian war participants have no real chances of entering power or becoming the “new elite.”
Participants in the “vremya geroev” program undergo a rigorous selection process, with the main requirement being loyalty to the current russian authorities. thus, promoting “smo heroes” into government bodies is one of the elements of “tightening the screws,” making russia’s representative bodies even more dependent on kremlin.
