Andrey Kolesnikov on Vladimir Putin’s meeting with large families

On June 1, the President of Russia, before going to the children’s rehabilitation center in Podolsk, traditionally met with families awarded the Order of Parental Glory. Special Correspondent “Kommersant” Andrey Kolesnikov made a few observations from this meeting. Will Vladimir Putin run for another term? Is it possible to govern Russia? And most importantly, can you enjoy it? The answers are in the text.

The impeccably organized meeting lasted almost two hours. For large families awarded the Order of Parental Glory, this was, of course, an incredible event, for which families were preparing and did not know how they would survive. I think it was easier for them to give birth to one more child.

And of course, it was impossible to get rid of the idea that on International Children’s Day there is a war and children are dying, and there is no one to protect them. And all this is arranged like this, and the devil knows what to do with it.

And the families awarded the Order of Parental Glory (to deserve it, you need to pull yourself together and educate at least seven) had the right to become famous on this day.

Large families from the Arkhangelsk, Kirov, Magadan, Novosibirsk, Smolensk and Chelyabinsk regions, the Republic of Adygea and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic took part in the video-conferencing session (VCS).

Well, everything was predictable, except for a few moments.

“From all the children of our large family, our sixth son in a row, but the seventh in his uniqueness, son Elisha, really wants to greet you,” said the head of the family (by all indications) Olga Kravtsova.

– I want to greet you in our way: “Ray!” — my beloved president, teacher! I am ten years old, I teach a flexible way and I will certainly be a winner. The front hook is my strong point, I love throws through the thigh and back! I teach philosophy a lesson and am filled with wisdom and strength. Thank you for your courage! I’m just starting my workouts! I saw you in battle, and I would like to be reasonable and dexterous like you! – the seventh in his uniqueness, Elisha spoke as if he was the first.

– I understand that you do judo? Mr. Putin answered him in prose, but for a young man this is enough for the rest of his life. “Excellent, you also write poetry. What do I want to say? In literary creativity, you have already completed the “hajime” command, I can only say “yoshi” – continue in the same spirit both in creativity and in sports arenas.

Yelisey’s father Gregory was in a hospital gown; he came from the special military operation zone to the hospital.

“I believe,” he said, “that victory will always be ours, we will win, this is unequivocal, there is no other way. I think that our country will eventually be the guarantor of peace and security for all peoples, all states of the world (God forbid! In the sense that we are not Anglo-Saxons! – A.K.).

— So it is, Grigory Alexandrovich, so it will be, as you said. There is no doubt here, because we are protecting our land (recently, indeed, so.— A K.), its people and its values. There is no doubt, there is nothing to even talk about!

Vladimir Putin did not want to let go of Grigory Kravtsov so easily.

– When you performed this duty, in fact, at the call of your heart, since you had the opportunity to leave the operation area, how was the situation around you? – asked the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. – How do you assess her, relations with colleagues, with people who surrounded you?

Here Grigory Kravtsov would open up to Vladimir Putin, because the case was unique. On the other hand, a person can be understood: he did not know what the Supreme wanted to hear.

“Having arrived there, of course, we concentrated,” Grigory Kravtsov also gathered. “Shoulder to shoulder, they did what was prescribed for us. But, of course, a lot of questions! But we solved them along the way, solved all the issues! And now our unit has already got used to each other so much that it is ready to perform any task!

He was, no doubt, sincere.

“Good,” Vladimir Putin approved, and Grigory Kravtsov cheered up even more:

“It’s the same with the interaction between other divisions, that is, in general, all this has recently improved, of course …— the way it should be!” And so, with regards to the provision … Everything is fine, we were provided with everything – there is nothing to say.

The main thing is that at least someone apparently had no problems with ammunition.

On the other hand, if higher-ranking military officers report the situation to Vladimir Putin in much the same way, then much becomes clear.

Vladimir Putin’s attention was captured by the Ilin family.

Savva Ilyin, Serafim Ilyin … In this family, giving names to children, they did not let them get bored in a fast-paced life.

True, the eldest was called Seryozha. Apparently, they did not immediately dare. Or they just ran out of common names starting with “C”.

Vladimir Putin is known to be very fond of children. And now he was touched:

– Your example is impressive… because it shows what happiness is, what it consists of – in children, as you know.

Vladimir Putin, too, no doubt spoke sincerely.

One of the numerous Ilyins asked the president, “what is your daily schedule like, do you even sleep”?

“Of course, like all people, I sleep,” Vladimir Putin answered. “Unlike some people you know, I try not to give up playing sports (Maybe he again meant former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as some time ago, when he spoke unflatteringly about the Russian president, hurt him, hurt.— A.K.) – it helps in the work. In general, I sleep a little, probably six or seven hours … I mostly sleep for six. Today, however, slept much less – it happened.

It is unlikely that we will know why. And it’s better not to.

– The schedule, probably, is not worth retelling, – the president continued, – because it is quite monotonous (Moreover, it would be fast; I would like to literally in a nutshell …— A.K.). You know, in this connection I recall what was said many, many, many years ago by various people. One of our emperors once asked if it was difficult to govern such a huge country – Russia, he said: “Governing Russia is not at all difficult, but absolutely useless.”

Maybe it really won’t start anymore?

Emperor Alexander II continued after all, by the way: “Anyway, it is you who will be accused of all mortal sins.” And then he somehow added: “Russia is not a commercial or agricultural state, but a military state, and its calling is to be a thunderstorm of light.”

We are waiting for Vladimir Putin to finally move on to live by this quote. Freeze.

– And another statesman, he had a difficult fate, but he was an interesting person, he once said … An approximate quote … “Russia is directly controlled by God, and if this is not so, then it is not clear how it even exists” (This was said at one time, in the second half of the 18th century, by a little-known official Sergei Khristoforovich Minikh, that is, Vladimir Putin dug deep.— A.K.). I must say, here I would argue with the author of these words (Although there seems to be nothing.— A.K.), because although Russia is directly controlled by God, it is clear that it exists at the expense of our people, due to the talent of our people, due to love for the Fatherland, due to devotion to one’s family and one’s Motherland.

But still, Vladimir Putin did not insist on his organizational skills.

– And in this sense, it is a great honor and pleasure to live in our country, and even more so to use the opportunity given by people to do what I do with my colleagues, to solve the problems that the country is facing in order to ensure its unconditional development and the future,” Vladimir Putin concluded.

So it turned out that he was able to enjoy all this.

– The most important thing in order to achieve a good, at least satisfactory result, and you need to strive for good results, of course, is to do what you love (He does it in this way. And there is no point in giving up your favorite business for no reason There is simply no reason, so everything is clear.— A.K.), the president now said. “In my case, yes, it seems to me, and in almost any other case, love for the Motherland, for the Fatherland, is an integral part of this process.

— Wonderful words, Vladimir Vladimirovich! – approved another Ilyin. – Another little one wanted to ask us a question! Ilyusha, tell me!

For Ilyusha will not get stuck:

– Vladimir Vladimirovich, are you more important than Santa Claus or not?

– Understood … – not immediately, but the president heard. – Santa Claus, I think, is more important.

And it seems that these words were not given to Vladimir Putin very easily.

We are all sinful people, and we only need to strive for what is required of us by higher powers, namely, unconditional love for our neighbor, unconditional love for our loved ones, for the country. On this path, we must overcome difficulties, they are inevitable,” the president said. “If we do not follow this thorny path upwards, then we will not achieve success.

This, of course, is about everything at once, and especially about his current affairs. Go to the end, that’s what’s to come.

– This applies to both young citizens of our country, and already adults. Everyone must move forward, everyone must achieve success in the system of coordinates in which he is on his life path, Vladimir Putin concluded.

The Shishkin family confessed to the president in one of their illusions:

– When they called us, when they said that “you were approved, agreed, they will be awarded” (how else? – A.K.), the children quickly ran to look on the phone, how is it happening (usually.— A.K.) award. They run, they shout to me: “Mom, we are going to the Kremlin, to the president!” And they are already discussing among themselves who will shake hands, who will be photographed!

But no, VKS!

– Well, as it is, it is – we thank you for such a meeting, – Elizaveta Shishkina sighed. – Thank God, today there is a miracle technique with which we can meet like this, overcoming long distances!

Well, another Shishkin, Vladimir, played the accordion for the president, and so well that you will listen.

Anuar Tugov, a boy of about four, was prompted by the whole family to answer the president’s questions.

There were those who sang (the Bukreev family sang the song “Eight years”, and this is a full-fledged choir) and played (“My work … We direct all our strength to glorify the Lord” … – explained the head of the Gorelov family from the Magadan region before sitting down to the piano.— A.K.).

Well, yes, sometimes it seemed that you were on the show “Field of Miracles” (if it is still airing). But this format is loved by the people. Namely, the Russian president addressed his large people on that day.

All of them, but what is there, all of us are his children in some sense.

Well, just kids.

Andrey Kolesnikov