Kremlin orders New Year celebrations to be kept low-key and include reminders of occupiers’ "heroism"
The Kremlin has "issued recommendations" to local authorities on how to celebrate the New Year, advising them to "show restraint in spending" but not to forget about "the soldiers’ heroism" in Ukraine.
Source: Russian Kremlin-aligned media outlet RBC
Details: Any restrictions on children’s New Year events are deemed to be "highly undesirable".
However, it is suggested that children should be brainwashed during the celebrations with "mentions of the heroism of defenders of the Motherland" and "opportunities to send greeting cards [to soldiers – ed.] on the children’s behalf".
When it comes to celebrations for adults, the Kremlin points out that it has "asked citizens to show restraint in their spending".
Regions and municipalities are encouraged to wish soldiers’ families a Happy New Year, send greetings cards to occupiers in Ukraine, and greet injured soldiers in hospitals.
New Year fairs are to be used as a "tool for public consolidation": people should collect gifts for participants in the so-called "special military operation" [a term coined by the Kremlin for the war in Ukraine – ed.] and put up "All For Victory" stands at the fairs.
In the occupied regions of Ukraine – the "Donetsk People’s Republic", "Luhansk People’s Republic", and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts - it is suggested that Christmas trees should be put up and tree-lighting ceremonies held.
It is also recommended that propaganda teams be formed (including Ded Moroz [the Slavic Santa Claus] and his granddaughter, the snow maiden Snegurochka) to wish Russian soldiers in Ukraine a happy New Year.
When putting together their concert schedules, regions and TV channels are advised to support "patriotic-minded" artists such as Gorod 312, Polina Gagarina, Oleg and Rodion Gazmanov, Viktoria Deineko, Larisa Dolina, Yaroslav Dronov (Shaman), Zara, the Zemlyane music group, Grigory Leps, Denis Maidanov, Alexander Marshal, Stas Pieha, Nikolai Rastorguev, Alexander F. Skliar, Garik Sukachov, Vadim Samoilov, Svetlana Surganova, Yulia Chicherina and Uma2rman.
It is recommended that mobile television studios be set up in the squares of Russian cities to "record greetings for those participating" in the war.
State companies are advised to refrain from "expensive large-scale celebrations and costly entertainment".
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