New People Leader Says Russians Are Tired of War, Slams Tech Bans in Duma Speech

July 27, 2026 Alexei Nechaev. duma.gov.ru The head of the center-right New People party on Monday voiced Russians’ growing frustration with the protracted war in Ukraine and government tech bans in a speech on the last day of the State Duma’s current convocation. Russians are “exhausted by uncertainty and injustice,” Alexei Nechayev was quoted as saying by the RTVI broadcaster. He characterized the wartime restrictions, including those infringing on Russians’ digital and technological freedoms, as “useless” for both public safety and public order. “We’ve accumulated a mountain of bans… They erode trust and slow down the country’s development. There are so many bans now that nobody even knows what’s allowed and what’s forbidden anymore,” Nechayev said. He referenced President Vladimir Putin’s speech in April, when he urged lawmakers to stop “fixating only on bans, restrictions and punitive measures.” Nechayev also called out the “injustice” of his colleagues demanding a sweeping ban on Western social media while they themselves use VPNs and other tools to bypass those restrictions. “Let’s change our approach. Let’s stop viewing the average citizen as an ignorant child or a potential criminal,” he said, referring to Russians as the country’s “main capital” that should not be “squandered.” The rare airing of frustration — which nevertheless stopped short of denouncing the war — by the leader of the youngest party in the Duma comes ahead of legislative elections this September. While the ruling United Russia party is widely expected to secure an overwhelming majority, New People, which currently holds 15 seats in the 450-seat Duma, is among a handful of parties jockeying for second place Although New People, which was founded in 2020, is considered more liberal-leaning than other parties, its lawmakers usually vote in line with United Russia on major issues, including the invasion of Ukraine. Last week, New People joined other parties in passing legislation that would cut off exiled anti-war Russians from consular and other services that legal experts warn will severely disrupt the lives of emigres abroad. Read more about: State Duma , New People Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Lawmakers Pass Bill Banning Advertising on ‘Extremist’ Platforms Like Facebook and Instagram Russia added Meta to its list of “terrorist and extremist” organizations in 2022 after accusing the company of tolerating “Russophobia.” 1 Min read Russia’s State Duma Speaker Demands USAID Funding Lists From Congress “Those who were funded from abroad should publicly apologize and seek penance on Red Square,” Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said. 2 Min read Russian Lawmakers Call for Ban on ‘Unusual’ Baby Names Like ‘Dumpling’ and ‘Stool’ State Duma deputies are preparing to submit a draft bill that would introduce a list of approved names for newborns. 1 Min read Putin’s Cousin Forms New ‘Russia Without Corruption’ Party Roman Putin's new party reportedly plans to run in the 2021 State Duma elections.