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Pro-Putin cult urges return to Soviet 'glory' France news
    German news
By Clem Cecil in Moscow Email | Print Italy news
Published: 12:01AM GMT 27 Jan 2002
  Spanish news

A SINISTER new organisation, backed by the Kremlin, is urging the Russian  

Russian news
Russia
people to reject pro-Western views and go back to the "glory" of Soviet Russia. European Union
News  
The 50,000-strong group which calls itself "Walking Together" has strict rules
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and indoctrination methods, but unlike the Chinese group it has the support of
the authorities. External Links
INTERNATIONAL JOBS
  "We want to create a new generation to help the Rally in support of Putin
Related Articles president bring Russia out of crisis," said its founder, proves well organised [8 SEARCH
Vasily Yakimenko. May '01] - Pravda
Soviet-era nostalgia Upload your CV Career advice
reaches new height
The Kremlin's clear involvement can be traced back Youth movement Get job alerts Advertise a job
'Free' Russian TV to the group's beginnings. Mr Yakimenko left a job in 'Walking together' -
station closed Russia Monitor
the Kremlin administration, where he was overseer of
Russian children put state-run charities, in May 2000 to create Walking
on streets Way to Russia
Together.
Kremlin's TV vendetta Moscow Times
The senior patron of the movement is Vladislav
Russia ends 10-year Surkov, the deputy head of the presidential
operation in The Soviet era -
Chechnya administration. geographia.com
Lord Blaker The group is vehemently pro-Putin and its first public
action was a huge rally in November 2000 to Advertisement

celebrate his presidency.

Wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Putin's face, thousands gathered near the
Kremlin and spoke of their love for the president. Mr Putin later received the
organisers of the rally in the Kremlin.

Russian liberals fear that the group is the embodiment of persistent attempts by
senior Kremlin officials to set up a new Soviet-style cult of personality around
the president: nationalism thinly veiled as patriotism is a hallmark of Walking
Together.

The group demands strict loyalty and discipline from its members, who are
handed a long checklist on joining which includes commands to "read at least
six Russian classics a year, whether you enjoy them or not, and visit the site of
a battle where the Russians were victorious". EDITOR'S CHOICE
Mr Yakimenko's latest attempt to indoctrinate members, aged mainly between 'I wanted to be loved so badly'
14 and 30, is a proposal to "purify Russian literature". Modern "liberal" books,   Tennis champion
which depict the difficulties of modern Russian life, have been damned by Martina Navratilova on
Walking Together. being an outsider,
battling cancer and why
The group has in turn published thousands of copies of a book of stories she believes Andy
recounting the Red Army's "glorious victories" during the Second World War. Murray can still win
These books were offered free in exchange for "corrupting" works. Wimbledon.
Walking Together is secretly sponsored by two companies with close Kremlin
Marilyn on the couch
ties as well as Moscow city council.
The Royal family is a bargain for Britain
Its outgoings are high: members are divided into groups of five called "red
stars", each led by a "foreman" who receives a free pager and £30 for his How to beat the Budget blues
services. Each of his five "soldiers" receives £1 as well as free T-Shirts.
Scissor Sisters at Glastonbury
Members are encouraged to recruit others with promises of rank and glory
NEWS MOST VIEWED
reminiscent of Communist indoctrination methods. "Once you have a red star,
try to persuade another 50 to join. TODAY PAST WEEK PAST MONTH

"Give them a party if they show interest in the group. You must be able to 1.Remains of 72 people found at World Trade
encourage and to punish, then you will become a commander of a division. If Center site
you persuade another thousand to put their fate in your hands, you will be a
2.Martina Navratilova serves up £2
coordinator."
million to end dispute with former lover

3.Pensions shake-up could see most people

MORE ON working into their seventies
Russia  Get feed updates
4. Kevin Rudd dumped as Julia Gillard
News  Get feed updates becomes Australian prime minister

5.Jesus will return by 2050, say 40pc of

Americans

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