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Russian Kids Spend Summer Goose-stepping

Youth movement an avatar of Putin propaganda

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Jul 31, 2007 4:12 PM CDT
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(Newser) – In a Soviet Era throwback, a new Russian youth group is said to be providing more than fun and games in its summer camp, the Weekly Standard reports. Nashi, Russian for “Ours,” is said to be an elite indoctrination program; while Russian officials liken it to the Boy Scouts, Nashi also inspires comparisons to Hitler’s Jugend youth movement.

The group, which denies it receives government funding, is intended partly to thwart the development of a pro-Western youth movement like the Orange Revolution in the Ukraine, the Standard claims. During recent visits from dignitaries, Putin spoke out on Western aggression and presidential candidates encouraged members to have large families, to ease demands on the Russian pension system.

Activists of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement work out at their summer camp near to Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. The movement claims to enlist tens of thousands of supporters throughout Russia and positions itself as a youth wing of...
Activists of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement work out at their summer camp near to Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. The movement...   (Associated Press)
Activists of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement attend an open air lecture at their summer camp near to Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometers (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. The movement claims to enlist tens of thousands of supporters throughout Russia and positions itself as a...
Activists of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement attend an open air lecture at their summer camp near to Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometers (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Activists of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement attend an open air lecture at their summer camp near Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. The movement claims to enlist tens of thousands of supporters throughout Russia and positions itself as a youth...
Activists of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement attend an open air lecture at their summer camp near Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Vasily Yakimenko, leader of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth, speaks to the media at their summer camp by Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. The movement claims to enlist tens of thousands of supporters throughout Russia and positions itself as a youth...
Vasily Yakimenko, leader of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth, speaks to the media at their summer camp by Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. The...   (Associated Press)
Activists of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement aim their AK-47s as they simulate military drills at their summer camp near Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. The Nashi's Army branch is trying to attract Russia's young men to avoid dodging the...
Activists of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement aim their AK-47s as they simulate military drills at their summer camp near Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow,...   (Associated Press)
A portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin seen in the summer camp of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement near Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July 17, 2007. The movement claims to enlist tens of thousands of supporters throughout Russia and positions itself as...
A portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin seen in the summer camp of the pro-Kremlin Nashi (Ours) youth movement near Lake Seliger, some 450 kilometres (281 miles) northwest of Moscow, Tuesday, July...   (Associated Press)
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Nashi subtly hostile toward US, Europe
New York Times

Nashi to protect Kremlin from "pro-Western revolution"
Newsweek

By fighting in the present, Nashi hopes to claim future
BBC

 
Russia • Vladimir Putin • Georgia • Adolf Hitler • revolution • Ukraine • Jugend • Third Reich • Viktor Yushchenko • Nashi

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