The article aims to study the functioning of governmental PR in modern Russia using the theory of political elites. The article provides a brief analysis of approaches to define governmental PR. The author attempts to apply the theory of political elites to the identification of the basic subject of governmental PR. Also, the article summaries results of opinion polls to estimate the levels of support for the activities of political institutions. The presented analysis shows that in Russia there is a significant bias towards administrative management methods and the mobilization agenda. This is due to the fact that in the political elite of Russia there is a significant disproportion in the representation of the main social groups in government. This imbalance was due to the success of representatives of the "power structures", especially in the highest echelons of power. Despite the successes of state PR in modern Russia and the high ratings of central and power institutions, such a configuration of power leads to serious problems in the functioning of public relations services in regional, local, legislative, and judicial institutions. The mobilization technologies of state PR in Russia, which led to the consolidation of the political elite and the formation of the “Crimean consensus” in society, in recent years have been demonstrating their natural limitations.