The State Duma's best-known suspected serial sexual harasser has just launched his own Telegram channel

State Duma deputy Leonid Slutsky — the same lawmaker accused by multiple women journalists of sexual harassment — has launched his own Telegram channel, saying, “Yes, I know ‘Teleg’ has been banned, but that’s only added to its popularity. So I’m going to follow the trend.” Only announced on April 27, Slutsky’s channel was created on April 16 — the same day Roskomnadzor started blocking the instant messenger.

Slutsky says he will use his channel to talk about the work of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, which he chairs. He also promises “exclusive comments and analysis.”

One of the first public officials to promote Slutsky’s channel was Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov, who welcomed his “brother” to the network. “In Chechnya, by the way, Telegram is working,” Kadyrov wrote on his own Telegram channel, where he has more than 31,250 subscribers. “I’ve had only a few disruptions. We’re some kind of special zone. :) :) :)”