The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, wants to create a nationwide children’s and adolescent movement of patriotic education, which is somewhat reminiscent of Soviet youth organizations Komsomolwhich will be called “Pioneers”, reports Ukrainian Pravdareferring to the Russian media.

In 2022, Russian deputies voted to create a national movement in Russia, open to all children from the age of 6, with the aim of “preparing children and youth for life in society, shaping their outlook on the basis of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.” (…), as well as to instill love and respect for the Motherland,” the authors of the initiative believe.

Participation in the movement, which seems to have been inspired by the Soviet “pioneer” movement and involves the appointment of officials responsible for achieving these goals, according to this law, is done on a voluntary basis.

A few days after her vote in the State Duma, Putin signed the law.

Now, it seems that Putin is not satisfied with its name – “Movement of the First”, so the Kremlin leader insisted that the organization be called “Pioneers”.

On April 19, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tetiana Golikova reported to Putin and mentioned the “Movement of the First” movement. Putin asked her what “first” means.

“Who are the first? They are pioneers, right? As it was, as it is, you can’t get away from this,” Putin allegedly said.

Then Putin said that the term “pioneers” is devoid of any ideological coloration, unlike the Komsomol [Uniunea Tineretului Comunist – ed.]. Therefore, the Russian president called on the vice-prime minister to think about calling the movement “pioneers”.

Golikova reminded him that the name of the movement was chosen by the delegates of the congress, but Putin continued to insist, saying that he knew this, but he needed to think about the option he proposed and “consult the children”.