Russian TV channels are required to give airtime to debates before elections. The parties just don’t show up.

Televised debates for candidates in elections to the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, have begun airing on Russian television. Russian law requires state TV channels to give parties and candidates free airtime, but they cannot fill all of it with campaign ads — at least half must go to joint campaign events such as discussions, roundtables, and debates.