Background

The State Duma is the lower house of Russia's Federal Assembly, its 450 deputies elected on a mixed proportional and constituency basis. Since 2022 it has functioned as a rubber-stamp legislature, authorising wartime measures without meaningful debate or opposition. The chamber faces its own election on 18-20 September 2026; Duma chairman and United Russia leader Dmitry Medvedev named the party's top-five candidate list on 28 June, headed by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Its Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Vyacheslav Nikonov, is the chamber's main channel for signalling Kremlin positions abroad. A Nikonov-led delegation visited the US Congress on 26 March 2026 at the invitation of Rep Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) with State Department authorisation, the first such contact since the full-scale invasion; all delegates were under EU sanctions. On 14 April the Duma passed, 413-0-0, the first reading of a bill authorising Putin to deploy Russian forces abroad to protect citizens from foreign courts.

Domestically the Duma has enabled the war economy through mobilisation law, press censorship, and property confiscation from war critics. A Communist Party deputy invoked '1917' in early May after ministers projected the National Wealth Fund's liquid share falling to $12.5 billion by year-end, roughly a quarter of its February value. A Meduza investigation reported officials are discussing a fresh mobilisation wave for after the September election, with voluntary contract signings down roughly 50% year-on-year.

Common Questions

What is Russia's State Duma?

The State Duma is the 450-seat lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly. It has functioned as a rubber-stamp legislature under Kremlin direction since 2022, authorising wartime laws without substantive debate.

Did Russian MPs visit the US Congress in 2026?

Yes. A sanctioned State Duma delegation led by Foreign Affairs chair Vyacheslav Nikonov visited the US Congress on 26 March 2026, invited by Rep Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) with State Department authorisation. All delegation members were under EU sanctions.Source: Congressional records / US media

Who leads the State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee?

Vyacheslav Nikonov chairs the State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee. He led the delegation that visited the US Congress in March 2026.Source: event

How did sanctioned Russian lawmakers get into the United States?

The State Department issued authorisation for the visit by the sanctioned Duma delegation in March 2026, enabling entry despite EU sanctions on all members. The visit was arranged at the invitation of Rep Anna Paulina Luna.Source: US State Department

What laws has the State Duma passed during the Ukraine war?

The Duma has passed mobilisation legislation, press censorship laws criminalising criticism of the military, property confiscation frameworks for war critics, and legal instruments for governing Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Why did a Russian MP mention 1917 in the Duma in 2026?

In early May 2026, a Communist Party (CPRF) State Duma member invoked '1917' in reference to Russia's fiscal trajectory after Economic Development Minister Reshetnikov projected the National Wealth Fund's liquid share could fall to $12.5 billion by year-end — roughly a quarter of its February 2026 value. The reference to the revolutionary year signals rare public fiscal alarm within a typically compliant chamber.Source: Russian Duma session records

When is the next State Duma election?

Russia's State Duma elections are scheduled for 18-20 September 2026. United Russia's top-five candidate list, headed by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, was confirmed by party chairman Dmitry Medvedev on 28 June 2026.Source: Lowdown

Did the Duma authorise Putin to deploy troops abroad?

Yes. On 14 April 2026 the State Duma passed the first reading of a bill, 413-0-0, authorising Putin to deploy Russian military forces abroad to protect Russian citizens from foreign courts, amending the laws On Defence and On Citizenship.Source: Lowdown

How the World Sees Them

EU/Ukraine

Criticised the visit sharply; noted that hosting sanctioned Russian lawmakers signals cracks in Western solidarity and potentially undermines the deterrent value of sanctions.

Russia/Kremlin

Uses Duma delegations as a tool of track-two diplomacy and intelligence gathering; the Congress visit represented a rare opening after years of diplomatic isolation since 2022.

US administration

State Department authorised the visit despite EU sanctions on all delegates; suggested US diplomatic track from Russia exists independently of allied sanctions frameworks.