During an October 15 broadcast on the state-run TV channel, Russia-1, General Andrey Gurulyov, a State Duma deputy from the "United Russia" party representing the Far East regions, suggested that those 20% of Russians who do not trust the nation's president, Vladimir Putin, should be eliminated. He believes that the "level of cohesion that exists today" is represented by the 80% of citizens who trust the sitting head of state.
"I wish that in this society of ours <…> all this rot that remains would be, if not isolated, then at least somehow eliminated,” Gurulyov remarked. His comments were directed at the so-called "traitors" who have left Russia, as well as those who remain but, according to surveys, do not trust Vladimir Putin. Gurulyov's past roles include serving as a deputy commander for the Southern Military District's troops. The publication Novaya Gazeta emphasized his ties with the Wagner PMC, his involvement in corruption scandals, and his clash with a prominent figure in United Russia, Andrey Turchak.
Valentina Tereshkova, renowned as the first female cosmonaut and currently presiding over the State Duma's ethics committee, believes that Gurulyov, in proposing the elimination of 20% of Russians, was exercising his "inherent right" to express his opinions and personal viewpoint. Tereshkova's perspective was revealed on the Telegram channel of the Vesna Movement, whose subscribers sent numerous appeals to the ethics commission, urging it to act against Gurulyov due to his suggestion that Russians "who do not trust the president" should be eliminated.
The committee, in as a statement endorsed by Tereshkova, said: "Expressing one's opinions and personal viewpoints on socio-political and economic matters is an inherent right of a State Duma deputy, as established by Russian legislation. Moreover, using figurative expressions or the so-called figures of speech is not derogatory in the Russian language and often serves to amplify the speaker's intent."

‍

‍