Vyacheslav Volodin ended the final plenary session of the eighth State Duma by leading lawmakers in a fivefold chant of 'Russia. Putin. Victory,' a slogan previously used by the Kremlin during the 2011–2012 protests, according to Meduza.
Before the chant, Volodin said: 'There are many parties. The homeland is one.' He then wished everyone 'Victory,' linking it to President Vladimir Putin. 'I want to wish everyone not vacations. Politicians don't have vacations. Victory to everyone. And for that, you need to work, believe in victory, and do everything so that it comes as soon as possible,' Volodin was quoted as saying by Ekho and TV Rain.
The slogan 'Russia. Putin. Victory' was previously used by the Kremlin in 2011–2012, when Putin was returning to the presidency amid some of the largest protests in modern Russia, according to Agentstvo.
Volodin listed three priorities of the Duma's work over five years: implementing presidential directives, 'ensuring the special military operation,' and an agenda shaped by citizens at meetings with deputies. In total, he said, deputies passed 2,980 federal laws, including 250 'anti-sanction' laws.
The eighth Duma significantly tightened repressive legislation, Ekho noted: it increased punishments for articles on 'high treason' and 'terrorism,' intensified persecution of 'foreign agents,' passed laws on 'fakes' about the army and 'discrediting' the army, imposed restrictions on Russians who left the country and were convicted on political charges, and banned gender transition. According to the Telegram channel DumaBingo, at least 59 laws were aimed at restricting freedom of information and media operations.
After the session, deputies went to the Kremlin for a meeting with Putin. Elections for the ninth State Duma will be held from September 18 to 20, 2026.