The leader of the nationalist LDPR party, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, suggested on Tuesday that all Russian news journalists should go on a monthlong vacation to relieve the “news pressure” on the public.
“The LDPR party proposes that all Russian media bosses give their employees a one-month vacation, for example, from July 15 to August 15. The incessant news machine should be stopped,” Zhirinovsky, a reliable source for eccentric remarks, told the State Duma on Tuesday.
The politician however did not specify whether it would be a paid vacation.
“There is a tremendous flow of filth coming from all the TV and radio channels that has a harmful effect on people’s health. Look at any news report: murders, blasts, wars, violence, clashes, detentions are all around,” Zhirinovsky said.
The LDPR party recently submitted a proposal to the State Duma to limit negative news stories on television to 20 percent, but it was rejected, Zhirinovsky said.
“Journalists…don’t your nerves need a rest?” he asked.