Russian zombie factory. Putin came to pick up soldiers in... kindergartens

 

The militarization of kindergartens in Russia is no longer just a source of internet memes. Since February 2024, criticism of instilling Kremlin ideology among preschool children has been effectively punished under the Administrative Law. The inclusion of kindergartens in the list of state propaganda targets in Russia has become inevitable.

At the end of January 2024, Natalija, a resident of Irkutsk, brought her child to kindergarten and drew the teacher's attention to the surplus of war-themed toys. According to Natalija, she replied that the kindergarten "provides patriotic education, and the children are explained that they should serve in the army and fight so that they are not afraid to die for their country". The mother asked that the child be given fewer war-themed toys, after which the teacher wrote a report about her. In court, the teacher presented her version of events: Natalija, having entered the kindergarten and "looked at the portrait of President Putin, spoke insultingly about him, said that Russia attacked Ukraine and that is why peaceful people are dying there." The Lenin District Court of Irkutsk fined Natalia 35,000 rubles under Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code "For discrediting the armed forces". The publication "People of Baikal" published this story on February 8.

 

Until recently, kindergartens, along with schools, were protected by Russian legislation from the influence of state propaganda. Item 12 of Article 27 of Law no. 273 "On Education" does not allow political and religious activity in educational organizations. Point 5 of Article 9 of Law no. 95 "On political parties" has a similar content (however, there is an exception for state government and local self-government bodies).

Also, teaching staff and other officials are prohibited from using educational activities for political agitation, forcing students to accept or renounce political beliefs (item 3 of article 48 of Law No. 273 "On Education"; item b of item 7 of Article 48 of Law no. 67 "On basic guarantees of electoral rights"). It is forbidden to force students and pupils to join public associations, including political parties, their forced involvement in the work of these associations and participation in campaigns and political actions is not allowed (paragraph 6 of Article 34 of Law No. 273 "On Education").

However, in 2022-2023. In 2008, schools were actually turned into centers of pro-Kremlin agitation, which is the subject of a special report by the Ukrainian Future Institute "Zombie factories: How will the new generation of Russians leave school?".

And recently, this process also affected kindergartens.

 

Similar positions may appear in kindergartens after schools and universities, where educational advisers and vice-rectors for educational work already work, Rosmolodi head Ksenia Razuvayeva reported on September 1, 2023. According to her, now even in all large companies there are people responsible for working with young people, and in 60 entities of the Russian Federation, special departments for youth policy have been created.

"There is no kindergarten here yet. But this is our next step - and we will definitely come to kindergartens!" said Razuvayeva.

On February 5, 2024, in a meeting with Vladimir Putin, the Minister of Education of Russia, Sergei Kravtsov, proposed to start the patriotic movement "Eagles of Russia", which is already active in elementary schools, in Russian kindergartens.

"We suggest, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, that this project be extended to preschool age as well. "Experts, methodologists and scientists say that activities like "Eagles" should be implemented in kindergartens," said Kravcov.

The minister referred to film director Nikita Mikhalkov, who said that "education actually starts from the moment a child starts kindergarten, and maybe even earlier." Putin did not comment on Kravtsov's idea, but agreed with Mikhalkov's statement.

"You are right, of course, education begins not only in kindergarten, but certainly earlier, probably after the birth of the child," said Putin.

Since the beginning of 2024, news about politicized military-patriotic events in preschool institutions have become more frequent. So on February 4, it became known that kindergarten number 24 in the city of Jelec is looking for carrots, potatoes and fresh mushrooms to send "Soup to the heroes of the homeland". He won't give up meat either. Kindergarten soups are needed by "participants of SVO", "we ask those interested to respond", it says in messages in the group and on the website of the kindergarten.

In Pervouralsk, Sverdlovsk Oblast, on February 9, a military and sports game "Zarnicka" was held for children of kindergartens #8, #9 and #14. Children competed in the speed of crawling through the snow with automatons, took part in a quiz dedicated to Defender of the Fatherland Day and solved military riddles. The organizers say that "the holiday is a great opportunity to have fun, show your abilities and gain useful skills".

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation, Tatiana Golikova, stated on February 18 that by the end of 2024, the federal project "Patriotic Education" should cover 72 percent of children and youth aged five to 19 (that is, it does not include kindergarten students).

 

Considering that:

 

- Russian schools will turn into centers not only of ideological indoctrination ("one textbook"), but more militarization ("hero parties", pre-military training from the 8th grade),

- Russian universities became centers of propaganda for the ideology of racism ("Foundations of Russian statehood", a new compulsory subject from the history of Russia), the penetration of state ideology into kindergartens was only a matter of time.

Currently, this process is only in the initial phase: the main burden of "patriotic education" falls on educators, not on specially trained people, the national program of measures has not been adopted, but local initiatives are implemented, and there are no mandatory methodological manuals. However, there is no reason to doubt that all this will be realized according to the scheme that has already been worked out in schools - most likely in the next two or three years. This, in turn, will speed up the future ideological "processing" of younger schoolchildren.

The introduction of a unique propaganda chain "kindergarten - school - university" reproduces the traditional Soviet practice (yellow children - pioneers - Komsomol members) and is designed to facilitate the Kremlin's training of new groups of loyal electorate and contract soldiers in the coming decades.

And the sentence in Irkutsk can be understood as a warning to parents who will express their active disagreement with the ideologization and militarization of preschool education in Russia.