The bill calls to legalize recent trends in Russia when the Kremlin would set up a youth organization funding it indirectly or from regional coffers. This file picture shows a rally of the Kremlin-backed Ours youth movement, making fun of tycoons and leftists politicians.
Photo: Roman Yarovitsin
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Party in Power Drafts Youth Policy Bill
The United Russia party has submitted a youth policy bill to the State Duma to create youth organizations in the government and elsewhere to foster patriotism and prevent the spread of extremism among teenagers. Opposition leaders say the bill is a political move ahead of a parliamentary election in Russia.
The draft prioritizes “upbringing the youth in the patriotic environment” and “prevention of extremism about young people". New policies will come to life in special youth projects which will be run by youth organizations-winners of tenders for state subsidies and funding, Alexandra Burateva, the bill's drafter, says.
The bill virtually calls to legalize recent trends in Russia when the Kremlin would set up a youth organization funding it indirectly or from regional coffers.
Lawmakers from the United Russia would like to support youth assemblies and parliaments which are supposed to give young people an insight into the functioning of governing bodies. The United Russia has lately promised to allocate 25 percent of the slots on its election rolls to young people.
Ilya Yashin, leader of the Yabloko’s youth department, says that the bill is an evident political move ahead of the parliamentary election in December. He also recalled that the Fair Russia had drafting a plan that would create a youth policy ministry in the government. “The United Russia is trying to monopolize the issue, giving the Fair Russian no chance to revive it [youth policy] before the election,” Mr. Yashin told Kommersant.
Konstantin Kostin from the United Russia said his party is the only one that has a youth quota and makes a real effort to bring young people to power.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of May 14, 2007
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