It is worth noting that the implementation of youth policy is not limited to the activities of Rosmolodyozh and occupation \u201cyouth departments\u201d alone. A significant role in this process is played by other Russian state structures, such as the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, as well as respective regional ministries. Not to forget various youth organizations \u2013 \u201cYoung army\u201d, \u201cMovement of the First\u201d, \u201cYoung Guard\u201d<\/em> and others, which have expanded their activities in the TOT in the short term, currently performing tasks related to the youth sphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Such cooperation of different structures, which not only implement propaganda but also manage, coordinate and fund this process, enables Russian authorities to create an integrated system aimed at indoctrinating youth in the TOT.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read the Report<\/a> of CCE \u201cAlmenda\u201d to learn more about the violations committed by Russia in the TOT within implementing its youth policy<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This article will focus on the all-Russian public state movement of children and youth \u201cMovement of the First\u201d (hereinafter \u2013 \u201cMovement of the First\u201d or the movement), which is the largest children and youth organization in the RF. It also operates in the occupied territories and is actually based on the model of the Soviet Pioneer movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our organization had already spread information about the activities of this children and youth unit. For example, in 2023 we published a report<\/a> and an article<\/a> which highlighted the movement\u2019s creation, its structure and funding, statistics on its open branches and members, as well as events held at that time. One should not think that the movement\u2019s activities have reached their peak and then gradually come to naught. On the contrary, the movement continues to grow, covering more and more children and young people, including those in the TOT, increasing the number of branches and scaling up propagandist events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMovement of the First\u201d operates in accordance with the Federal law<\/a> \u201cOn Russian movement of children and youth\u201d and is directly related to the youth policy in the TOT. Its membership provides for shaping the mindset of children and youth based on the \u201ctraditional Russian spiritual and moral values\u201d, as well as cultivating love and respect for \u201chomeland\u201d (note. – RF), growing the feeling of personal responsibility for the \u201chomeland\u2019s\u201d and one\u2019s own fate<\/a>, striving for self-realization in Russia, developing Russian society and state<\/a>. The USA<\/a>, Canada<\/a>, Switzerland<\/a> and the EU<\/a> have included the movement in their sanction lists for its illegal activities, related to the military-patriotic education of children and youth in the TOT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The establishment of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d is closely connected with the TOT. According to the Russian pro-government version, the movement\u2019s initiator is Diana Krasovska<\/a> from Luhansk who then lived in the city of Sevastopol. Moreover, the first movement\u2019s branches were opened in the TOT and not elsewhere: in the International Children\u2019s Center \u201cArtek<\/a>\u201d in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and also in the School No. 1 and in the Medical College in Henichesk, Kherson region. The opening ceremony in the TOT of Kherson region was attended by the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Making the TOT a starting point for the activities of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d is no coincidence. This choice has a deep symbolic meaning, intended to show that these territories are an inherent part of Russia and occupy an important position in its future. When high-ranking officials like Kravtsov attend the opening ceremonies of the movement branches, this effect is additionally strengthened. Such \u201cprimacy\u201d may also give a false impression of \u201cspecial status and priority for the Russian authorities\u201d to the people in the TOT, including local youth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Number<\/a> of enrolled members in the TOT (information from open sources, the real number of members of the “Movement of the First” could be different):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At first the movement\u2019s activities were mostly targeted at school children, while the membership age was limited to 18 years. However, from January 2024, the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d can be joined<\/a> by young people up to 25 years old, including those living in the TOT. This change testifies to the Russian Federation\u2019s striving to reach a broader audience, covering the students of higher-education institutions, with the purpose of their indoctrination and militarization. By the end of 2024<\/a> the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d had already had over 8,5 million members (note. – the whole Russian territory and the TOT). What is more, the number of members had almost doubled in one year, which demonstrates the successful fulfillment of the plan on extending outreach.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The executive body<\/a> of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d comprises only one official \u2013 Chairman of the Board who manages the current affairs of the organization and acts on its behalf without power of attorney. Since December 2022, this position had been occupied<\/a> by Grigory Gurov<\/a>, well familiar with the youth policy sphere: from May 19, 2020 until August 17, 2021 he had been the Deputy Chairman of Rosmolodyozh, from August 17, 2021 and till his appointment as head of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d \u2013 Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, led by Valery Falkov. Gurov is under the sanctions of the USA<\/a>, the EU<\/a>, Ukraine<\/a> and Switzerland<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In one month (from August till September 2024) Russia lived through changes and reshuffles in the management of the structures, responsible for the youth policy implementation. On August 14, Ksenia Razuvaeva, who had previously been the head of Rosmolodyozh for more than 3 years, was dismissed. Exactly a month later (on September 14), the news spread<\/a> about appointing Grigory Gurov as head of the Rosmolodyozh, while the vacant position of the head of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d was filled by the participant of the so-called \u201cspecial military operation\u201d (hereinafter \u2013 \u201cSMO\u201d) Arthur Orlov, appointed by the decree of the Russian President Vladimir Putin<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arthur Orlov: who is he?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n On Putin\u2019s initiative, an active campaign has been conducted in order to integrate the participants in the war against Ukraine into the Russian political and social environment, youth activities in particular. One of the instruments of this policy is the program<\/a> \u201cTime of Heroes\u201d, called to adapt \u201cveterans\u201d to civil service and boost their influence on society. On February 29, 2024, the program\u2019s start was announced<\/a> by Putin during his address to the Federal Assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c[…] They (note. \u2013 participants of the so-called \u201cSMO\u201d) are the very ones who should hold leadership positions in the education system \u2013 in general and for youth, in public organizations<\/em><\/strong>, state-owned enterprises, business, public administration on the state and municipal level; they should be in charge of regions, companies and after all, in the largest national projects. […] I will repeat that the true, real elite are all those who serve Russia, those labourers and warriors, reliable and worthy, having proven their loyalty to Russia by deed.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In this regard, I announce a new decision, as I believe, an important one: starting tomorrow, from March 1, 2024, the veterans of the \u201cSMO\u201d, as well as soldiers and officers who are now fighting in active military units, will be able to apply for participation in the first study group of a special recruitment program. It will he called \u201cTime of Heroes<\/a>\u201d [\u2026]\u201d<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n(note. \u2014 editorial translation) \u2014 direct speech<\/a> of the Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This program was joined<\/a> by the future head of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d Arthur Orlov<\/a> \u2014 a former participant in the war against Ukraine and in Russian military operations in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Biographical information<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Arthur Orlov, <\/strong><\/strong>Russian military serviceman, born in 1989 in the village of Kizner (the Udmurt Republic, Russia).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In senior high school he studied in a cadet class. Graduate of Kazan Higher Tank Command School<\/a>; after graduation he served in one of Russian military units and in 2016 was sent to the Syrian war. Participant of the so-called \u201cSMO\u201d: Orlov commanded<\/a> a tank battalion of the 90th Guards Tank Division of the Central Military Disctrict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Awards and honours of Orlov:<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the selection for the program \u201cTime of Heroes\u201d, Orlov said that the issue of youth policy and patriotic education require special attention from the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe generation I would really like to work with is the younger one. On one side, this is a very rewarding job \u2013 they are so nice to work with, especially primary pupils. When you start a conversation with them, they ask really deep questions. And well, of course, senior high schoolchildren and students who have almost reached the finish line are in dire need of the examples of patriotism and care for our country<\/strong>\u201d,<\/em> –<\/p>\n\u2013 he said<\/a>.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Since September 2024, as head of the movement, Orlov has been practically demonstrating to children and youth how to love Russia in the \u201cproper\u201d way.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n The 2024 Moscow \u201cVictory Day Parade\u201d symbolised the uplift of the so-called \u201cSMO\u201d participants, whom Russia aspires to present as \u201cHomeland defenders\u201d. The Parade was attended by the Russian President Vladimir Putin in person, surrounded by the \u201cheroes of Russia\u201d \u2013 Rail Gabdrahmanov, Vladislav Golovin (participant of the program \u201cTime of Heroes\u201d who became the head<\/a> of \u201cYoung Army\u201d on December 24, 2024) and Arthur Orlov.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n According to \u201cThe Insider\u201d<\/a>, the subordinates of all these three figures were implicated in war crimes in Ukraine. For instance, in Autumn 2022, Ukrainian law enforcement agencies accused two servicemen of the unit commanded by Orlov of having raped a pregnant woman during the occupation of Kyiv region, resulting in the loss of the child. Other crimes committed by Orlov\u2019s subordinates include torture and killings of civilians. Although Arthur Orlov personally is not mentioned in these accusations, the international humanitarian law has a principle of command responsibility, contained in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and in the Rome Statute of the ICC. In agreement with this principle, military commanders can be held liable if: (1) they knew or should have known that the crime would be committed by their subordinates, (2) they failed in their duty by doing nothing to prevent the crime or punish the guilty. So if it is proven that Orlov knew about the above-mentioned war crimes but did not take any measures to prevent them or to punish the guilty, he can also be brought to justice as a war criminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is worth pointing out that the RF authorities not only ignore the facts of war crimes committed by Russian military personnel participating in the war against Ukraine, but also encourage the criminals: Orlov was awarded the title of \u201cHero of the Russian Federation\u201d and was later appointed as head of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2023, the EU imposed<\/a> sanctions against Colonel Ramil Ibatullin, commander of the division including the battalion under Orlov, for the fact that his subordinates \u201ccommitted acts of sexual and gender-based violence against Ukrainian civilians\u201d, namely \u201cgang rapes\u201d, \u201crape of a pregnant woman\u201d in Kyiv region, \u201cmurder of a civilian after repeatedly raping his wife in the presence of their little child\u201d. In spite of the publicity this story had received, the Russian Ministry of Defence promoted<\/a> Ibatullin to the rank of colonel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Russia gives no legal reaction to the war crimes committed by the subordinates of Ibatullin and Orlov, it legitimizes violence against civilians. Besides, Russian authorities openly glorify killings and rapes of Ukrainian civilians, turning criminals into \u201cheroes\u201d for the new generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soon after being appointed as head of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d, Orlov started actively visiting the TOT including Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where he met with local young people. Among other activities, together with the head of Rosmolodyozh Grigory Gurov and the so-called \u201cacting minister of youth policy of the Donetsk People\u2019s Republic\u201d Kirill Makarov, he met<\/a> the members of the regional branch of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d. In September 2024, he also attended the final of the \u201cBig Change\u201d in the TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, where he was engaged in awarding the winners of the competition. During the \u201cgala\u201d ceremony, young people were involved in unfurling huge cloth of the Russian flag. At the same time, speeches were made<\/a> about \u201clove for Homeland (note. \u2013 Russia), respect for its history and traditions\u201d. Altogether, \u201cBig Change\u201d is the most large-scale project of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d \u2013 in 5 seasons 6 million children and young people, including those from the TOT<\/a>, became its participants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another big project of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d is the militarist game \u201cZarnitsa 2.0\u201d (note. \u2013 \u201cheat lightning\u201d from Russian), intended for acquiring basic military skills and knowledge of how to act in emergency situations. It has been \u201cplayed\u201d<\/a> by about 800 thousand children and young people from all over Russia, including the TOT, whereas participants or veterans of the so-called \u201cSMO\u201d have often become the mentors in this game. Set in Volgograd region of the RF in September 2024, the final of \u201cZarnitsa 2.0\u201d fell on Orlov\u2019s tenure and reached 600 participants. Among others, the teams from the TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea<\/a> (in the photo below) and Zaporizhzhia region<\/a> took \u201cprize-winning\u201d places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the final trials, the teams demonstrated skills of providing first aid in the field; sappers practiced skills of laying minefields and demining the territory; UAV operators mastered the efficient control of unmanned aerial vehicles and learned how to counter the UAVs\u2019 threats. Topographers competed in orienteering and artillery fire adjustment, while war correspondents \u2013 in creating \u201creliable pieces of information in combat\u201d along with political commissars who also learned how to guarantee information security and deal with the current threats in cyberspace. Therefore, the program of \u201cZarnitsa 2.0\u201d provides the youth with full-fledged preparation for combat, including thorough practice of technical and tactical skills.\u00a0 And the young generation which participates in these activities turns into the potential Russian mobilization reserve.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his Telegram channel, Arthur Orlov supported Igor Kostyuk from Mariupol (note. \u2013 according to Orlov) who painted over the \u201cdisgraceful street art in his hometown\u201d \u2013 for instance, the image of the Ukrainian flag. The head of the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d expressed<\/a> pride in this young man, calling his behaviour an \u201cexample\u201d for youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLaunch in the TOT and statistics on members<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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\u0410<\/strong>rthur Orlov: new “head” of the movement<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\u201cHeroes\u201d on parade with Putin<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nActivities of Orlov as head of the movement are related to the TOT<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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