Time to read: 5 minutes(s)

Telegram is one of the ways officials communicate with Russians. Governors, among others, actively use it. But how exactly do they structure their communication with residents on this relatively open platform?

Which governors fear criticism, even in the form of pictures? What reactions do they enjoy most, and which do they fear? Who can be labeled a clown, and who can be laughed at? Our short study explores these questions.

"NeMoscow" analyzed 78 existing Telegram channels of heads of Russian regions. More than half – 43 official – disabled the ability to comment on their posts. The most uncommunicative governors banned not only comments but also any reactions, completely isolating themselves from their followers. Here are four of them: Vyacheslav Gladkov (Belgorod Oblast), Dmitry Azarov (Samara Oblast), Vadim Shumkov (Kurgan Oblast), as well as the mayor Moscow's Sergei Sobyanin. Shumkov, for example, from time to time he gives himself likes - he simply ends his posts with a “thumbs up”.

Only a third of Russian regional leaders agree to receive dislikes on Telegram. 27 officialsOthers have disabled this feature. Most often, the negative reactions allowed are the "thumbs down" 👎🏻, and sometimes "obscene language"🤬.

13 people They want to see only positive reactions - what they write can only be approved.

Others 31 official I agree to receive a wider range of emojis, excluding critical ones.

And finally, the bravest regional leaders. They opened the comments and allowed dislikes. total 13.

The most favorite reactions of governors (or their press services): "thumbs up"👍🏻, "heart"❤️, "fire"🔥 – they are found in almost everyone. The Vologda governor considered this set sufficient to evaluate his performance. Georgy FilimonovVladimirsky - Alexander Avdeev — added “applause” to this👏🏻.

Applause is common, as are "celebration"🎉, "handshake"🤝🏻, and "prayer"🙏🏻.

The governor of the Voronezh region provided the largest selection of reactions. Alexander Gusev 38The head distinguished himself with minimalism Dagestan Sergey Melikov - You can only give him a thumbs up. The most common is 6 - 10 emoji.

The most "unpositive" things many governors have allowed themselves are "thoughtful face"🤔, "mind explosion"🤯, and "cry of horror"😱. However, these symbols are difficult to clearly convey one's attitude toward an official's performance.

But the more eloquent "happy bunch"💩 is banned by absolutely everyone. Governors also ban the use of "clown"🤡, even though it's one of the most popular Telegram emojis for expressing one's attitude toward the initiatives and reports of those in power. However, we did find one single clown! ChukotkaHave Vladislava KuznetsovaHis readers use this emoji quite actively. His most popular post in December was his laudatory post about his nomination. Fishing season for another term.

Governors aren't very fond of the laughing emoji😁. Only 28 leaders left it in the reaction list. The rest probably don't want anyone to laugh at them. Although, here Ramzan Kadyrov do not mind.

However, when people cry, they don't really like it either. "Tears of sadness"😥 are 36 governors, but only two were allowed to cry at home😭 - the Voronezh one Gusev and Sakhalin Valery Limarenko.

8 chapters Regions are being asked to "salute." It's unclear who should do this—ordinary residents of the region or readers of the "Comrade Majors" Telegram channel. 13-th governors You can send a "peace dove"🕊️, and this image has become, including on Telegram, a symbol of protest against the war.

A very rare symbol is the bored one ("yawn")🥱, only two people have allowed it - the Arkhangelsk governor Alexander Tsybulsky and Chukchi Vladislav KuznetsovThe latter's Telegram channel, compared to his prim colleagues, looks like a hotbed of recklessness. His posts can be tagged with strawberries🍓 and a bottle of champagne🍾. And you can even send the governor a kiss💋. Only one equally daring colleague was found – Gusev from Voronezh. And the Kamchatka one Vladimir Solodov The only one that can boast of a banana🍌 and a ghost👻.

The set of emojis changes as needed. Now, in honor of winter and the upcoming New Year, some are using "snowmen" and "Christmas trees." And after the school shooting, the Bryansk governor Alexander Bogomaz For a few days I left only the prayer icon, returning the rest of the symbols after a few days.

Another detail: many governors who disabled comments on Telegram retained this feature on their VKontakte pages. This platform makes it much easier to identify and, if necessary, punish undesirable commenters.

A few numbers:

Analyzed: 83 constituent entity of the Russian Federation, 78 Telegram channels. There are no Telegram channels. 5 governors: Volgograd, Ivanovo, Tver, Tula, Sverdlovsk regionsThe study does not include the channels of the heads of the so-called "new regions." Comments are permitted: 35. 
Comments are disabled: 43. 

Reactions allowed: 71.
Reactions disabled: 7.

Only positive reactions are allowed: 13.
A variety of reactions are allowed except for critical ones: 31.
Negative reactions (thumbs down, foul language) are allowed: 27.

Comments are allowed, but negative (or any) reactions are prohibited: 21. 

They distanced themselves as much as possible from the opinions of residents (disabled comments and prohibited negative reactions): 26.