Deputy Vasily Piskarev warned of a campaign being prepared in the West to discredit candidates who participated in the special military operation and intend to run for the State Duma in 2026.

"Western curators are planning a large-scale campaign against candidates from the SVO in the 2026 State Duma elections. This campaign will be carried out primarily by foreign agents." — Piskarev said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

According to him, foreign intelligence agencies are already forming a pool of assassins from among foreign agents recognized in Russia and fugitive opposition figures. The goal is to tarnish the veterans' reputations and disrupt their participation in the election race.

The State Duma Security Committee is preparing countermeasures, including strengthening oversight of funding for NGOs and media outlets affiliated with foreign grantors.