An 11-year-old boy wished Putin “victories”

Officials chose the president as an “ideal mentor”

Soon every Russian will be able to choose a mentor. At a meeting of the State Council, Vladimir Putin supported the proposal to create an all-Russian digital platform where everyone can choose a suitable candidate. However, officials no longer face such a problem. According to Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozzhaev, the vast majority consider Vladimir Putin their mentor and use his statements as a direct guide to action.

The final meeting of the State Council was, without a doubt, long-awaited. Since the informal summit of the leaders of the CIS countries ended only at two in the morning the day before, the start of the event, which brought together all 89 governors, was first moved forward three hours, and then moved another hour. But the new timing also turned out to be wrong: before speaking to members of the State Council and numerous invitees, Vladimir Putin decided to call 11-year-old Nikita Miroshnichenko from Kostroma, another participant in the New Year’s event, whose wish fell into the hands of the president. (Recall that a few days ago he interrupted a meeting with ministers to find out how the dream of seventh-grader Ksyusha was fulfilled.)

Nikita wanted to visit the Hermitage. And on December 27, the fairy tale became reality: on the instructions of the president, the boy and his family were given a tour of the state rooms and shown the most interesting items from the museum’s huge collection. “Where are you now, at the Peacock?” – Putin asked, referring to one of the most popular exhibits – the watch that Potemkin once ordered for Catherine II. A special mechanism, invented by the Englishman James Cock, sets in motion the figures of birds and animals included in the composition of the clock machine. Nikita was taken to a special room for a conversation with the president, decorated with New Year trees and other holiday paraphernalia. But in principle, Putin was not mistaken: what Nikita liked most about the Hermitage, according to him, was “The Peacock.”

The boy said that he wanted to visit the throne room and “the royal chambers where the kings were and lived.” This dream also came true. “Great!” – Putin rejoiced. But he immediately complained that one day in the Hermitage was too little. “I’m sure you’ll want to come again.” Moreover, it is best to do this in the summer. “It’s especially beautiful in the summer. Opposite the Peter and Paul Fortress, (near) Palace Square, you can walk around, take a walk, and see. There is something to see in St. Petersburg,” Putin noted knowledgeably, who the day before spent the whole day touring the imperial residences of the leaders of the CIS countries.

The President asked several times whether Nikita himself and his family members were tired of walking through the halls of the Hermitage. The reason became clear when the boy’s mother, Nina Gennadievna, answered the phone. Nikita turned out to have a very serious diagnosis – Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is a genetic disease that develops only in boys: muscle atrophy causes rapid fatigue, difficulty climbing stairs (and there are many of them in the Hermitage), frequent falls, etc. Nina Gennadievna said that a new medicine had appeared abroad that successfully stops the manifestations of the disease, and asked Putin to approve its use and purchases within the framework of the “Circle of Good” state fund.

When the time came to exchange New Year’s wishes, the president wished Nikita success in all his endeavors (the boy, despite his illness, plays the clarinet well and even won international competitions), and all the Miroshnichenkos “all the best” in 2024. Nikita’s response turned out to be meaningful: he wished Putin victories, without specifying which ones or where exactly. But the president understood everything without further ado. “Thank you for such a wish,” he responded with enthusiasm and could not resist the alaverda. — We all need victories. You, your sister, mom, dad, all of us. Best wishes, good mood and success,” said VVP as he said goodbye.

However, the meeting of the State Council, which the president held after this conversation, also had a direct bearing on Nikita, who attends a regular secondary school. It discussed the results of the Year of the Teacher and Mentor, as well as innovations in domestic education, which is drifting away from the Bologna system towards its own sovereign path. Participants of the State Council confirmed that the educational component, patriotism and labor education have returned to schools. And for education, only state information systems with proven content are used. The head of Sevastopol, Razvozzhaev, said that the day before at a seminar, governors and members of the Cabinet discussed the archetype of a mentor, and the “absolute majority” named their ideal… of course, Vladimir Putin. “I take the liberty of quoting you as a mentor. For me personally, this phrase is a clear goal indication for work: “Any professional always dreams that the business to which he has dedicated his life will be in good hands in the future. V.V. Putin,” Razvozzhaev read from a piece of paper. In light of the upcoming elections, the chosen quote might sound somewhat ambiguous. But everything has already been decided: Putin will remain a mentor, and the rest will have to prove their reliability.

Published in the newspaper “Moskovsky Komsomolets” No. 29188 dated December 28, 2023

Newspaper headline:
Putin became the “ideal mentor”