Residents of Tatarstan were encouraged to look for partners at the polling stations, as reported by journalist Ksenia Sobchak on March 11.
The vice-premier of the Tatarstan government, Leyla Fazleyeva, participated in a conference where it was suggested that people should make romantic acquaintances at the polling stations instead of social media. Fazleyeva stated that the region’s residents should probably 'take a closer look at each other' during the elections.
Journalist Nail Selivanov, who moderated the conference, suggested the following motto for the elections: 'Choose not only your president but also your destiny.'
A few days earlier, the civil registry office of Kazan announced 'speed dating evenings' in libraries and parks. Local authorities believe that encounters on social media are 'not exactly the right thing,' as they lead to young people getting married and having children later than the government would like.