A televised election debate in Russia took an unusual turn when no candidates appeared in the studio. According to Ilta-Sanomat, the broadcast ended up featuring only the host, despite being billed as a debate.

The situation became even more striking when one candidate declined to speak and another used the allotted time to sing. The episode highlights how quickly a debate format can lose its political purpose when participants do not engage with it.

No further irregularities were reported in the broadcast, but the scene was remarkable on its own. It also underlines a basic point about election coverage: without candidates willing to take part, even a debate can become little more than a formal shell.