Overview
- At a Nov. 5 meeting of the Council for Interethnic Relations in Moscow, Vladimir Putin said patriotism should take the place of the Soviet-era ideological model.
- He described patriotism as fostering love for a shared homeland that serves every nation and ethnic group in Russia, stressing it must be "not 'kvasnoy,' but serious and deep."
- He argued that such understanding provides better protection and greater confidence in the future for citizens and their children.
- He contrasted the stance with the Soviet construct of a "Soviet people," which he characterized as ideologized.
- No concrete legislative or administrative measures accompanied the remarks, while a VCIOM poll released Nov. 6 reported that 94% of respondents consider themselves patriots.