United Russia has developed a code of public positioning for State Duma deputies from the party. RBC got acquainted with the document, which was sent to the deputies, its authenticity was confirmed by one of the parliamentarians.
The Code consists of 11 points, which are formulated as follows.
Do not violate the statutory ethical norms of the party by deed, word, text.
Correlate your position and statements with the basic statutory values of the party, program guidelines and the collegial position of the party on the issue.
Do not rush to react in your own social networks and comments for the media: the media advantages of “being the first” can turn into a statement “I was wrong” (I misled, deceived, just to “catch the hype”, etc.).
It is categorically not recommended to comment on the international agenda, military and internal conflicts in other countries without planned preliminary installations or before the official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is voiced; subsequent comments should not contradict the official position of the state.
It is advisable not to comment on special profile questions (especially not to initiate!), if you are not an expert in a topic or industry problem, without consulting experts and partners.
Categorically do not write in social networks in an inadequate physical and mental state.
Fulfill the elementary requirements of the culture of speech, do not use obscene vocabulary and jargon, which can be interpreted in two ways or give opponents a reason for trolling.
Control your emotions and reactions, especially in the case of discussions on social networks and provocations.
Do not post luxury items, exotic travels and restaurants on your social networks – anything that can create an image of you as a “privileged class” in the eyes of the public.
“The one who gives quickly gives twice” (lat. Expression): in case of negative resonance, immediately, without waiting for calls from colleagues and discussions about the correctness of the opinion or that “everyone misunderstood me”, etc., bring personal apologize and explain your own mistake.
Always remember that the opinion of you personally now is the opinion of the entire government and the entire party.
The code also provides examples under the heading “Don’t do this!”.
Among them post of United Russia deputy Sultan Khamzaev dated January 2022, in which the parliamentarian speaks out in support of “holding a referendum in Kazakhstan on the reunification of the republic with the historical homeland of Russia.”
Another example from the rubric “Don’t do it like that!” – the sensational post of another deputy from the ruling party Oleg Matveychev, also published during the riots in Kazakhstan in January of this year (in the document, the name and surname of the deputy are erased, but the media wrote about the content of the post at the time). In it, Matveychev called for violence against the owners of mobile phone shops in Alma-Ata, “who wrote on Facebook: “when Nazarbayev, who has been tired for 40 years, already leaves” (the owner of the social network, Meta, is recognized as extremist in Russia and banned). Later Matveychev deleted post and apologized for it.
A number of Russian deputies, journalists and cultural figures made absolutely incorrect statements about Kazakhstan, declared in June, at the plenary meeting of the SPIEF-2022 with the participation of Vladimir Putin, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The press service of “United Russia” at the time of publication of the material did not provide comments.
