Andrey Kolesnikov’s report on how Vladimir Putin appeared at the First Movement congress

On February 1, in the 75th pavilion of VDNKh, with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the closing ceremony of the Congress of the First Movement was held. Kommersant special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov recorded the moment when the president publicly sang every word of the Russian anthem for the first time, and agrees that, apparently, the time has come for this too.

According to the organizers, the delegates to the congress at the closing ceremony should have behaved energetically and purposefully. There was no need to start them. They should have started it.

But no, it wasn’t that simple. It was even difficult. Only the presenter Stas More, the author of the songs “Be First!”, “Be Like Children” and “Get Together, Brother!”, really tried.

“Let’s applaud in the rhythm of the beat!” he urged the audience. “Let’s try faster!”

The audience began to applaud more often, even more often, and more… The applause was about to become stormy and prolonged. And no one, I think, would be surprised: a congress.

– Just don’t speed up! — the presenter suddenly braked sharply. “We remain at the same rhythm!” It’s a beat! He doesn’t speed up!

That is, it was necessary to clap faster, but not more often. It seems so.

And keep up with the beat:

– No step back! Not a step in place! Movement of the first – movement together!

The presenter has just released Rodion Gazmanov to rest, who so far has been coping just fine and gave his all in the chants, as Stas More called them, completely. But no person can do that for so long, not even Rodion Gazmanov.

Now Stas More demanded:

– So, to the beat! “Russian movement of children and youth! Today we will lay down new history!” “Let’s move together towards our dreams! We will be the support of a huge country!.. Now just applaud each other!..

The hall, which, with the exception of the first deputy head of the presidential administration Sergei Kiriyenko, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and presidential assistant Maxim Oreshkin, was dominated by demonstratively young people, did everything willingly and seemingly tirelessly. But something was somehow missing.

Meanwhile, the young people in the hall were more of a Komsomol age than a Pioneer (that is, soon to be drafted). It is clear that the First Movement united everyone and everything.

“The doors of the whole world are open before you, open any, be brave!” – the soloists of the ensemble “Domisolka” sang from the stage, addressing the delegates of the congress (also, however, not such children; they grow up with the ensemble), and one could already argue with this.

— Those who watch the broadcast (and there were some.— A.K.), they say that there is not enough energy in the hall, adrenaline, which the whole country needs! – Stas More now reproached the delegates from the stage. – Let’s make a beat again! “We are children of Russia! We are reaching heights! The movement of the first is only forward!”

The audience, realizing everything, repeated the chants in more or less unified impulse.

– Yeah! – shouted an inspired Stas More. “We have another interesting option!” “We will be faithful to the traditions of the young! We are the bright future of our country!”

The option didn’t seem all that interesting. But there seem to be no other options.

– We raised the mood! – stated Stas More. – We meet Rodion Gazmanov!

“I realized that on this stage I only sang songs that I wrote myself,” he admitted (and he had already sung a lot in anticipation of Vladimir Putin.— A.K.), again taking the stage.— But there is one segment of the repertoire that was written by my father Oleg Gazmanov!

It seems that the little scoundrel, who was the headliner here precisely because he was more suitable for everyone here in age than his father (let’s not take into account Maxim Oreshkin for now), intended to encroach on Oleg Gazmanov’s repertoire.

“I don’t sing his songs,” the prankster said, “I don’t take bread from my elders!” But there is a song that we have always sung, 30 years ago and even more! And what is this song called?!

It was then that it turned out that the scoundrel was not so little, if he had been singing 30 years ago and even more. Or rather, he is actually already 42 years old. And he is young only in the shadow of his father.

When asked what the song was called, there was an immediate response from the audience:

– Russia!

It’s unlikely that they were expecting another song.

– No, “Russia” is a fresh song! – Rodion Gazmanov dissuaded them.

And if they meant Igor Talkov’s song “Russia,” then it was written earlier than 30 years ago. No, even for a 42-year-old man, this was not a very fresh song. And even for a 72-year-old.

– This is a different song! – Rodion Gazmanov finally exclaimed. “This one is called “Dance while you’re young!”

This song is really so old that no one can even say how old it is. However, no more than Oleg Gazmanov.

It’s strange that Rodion Gazmanov suggested that teenagers sing this particular song. There is some kind of bitter taste of doom in it.

– Rodion Gazmanov! – Stas More picked up. – Forever young, forever…

I thought he would end up like the original of the other song he was just trying to quote: “Forever young, forever drunk.” But no, of course, this is not a trend in delegate activities.

– Forever dancing! — the presenter finished victoriously.

The song was performed and sounded, by the way, even better than the others. Dad can do it.

Several delegates were given the floor on stage. One of them, a dark-skinned, curly-haired Russian guy from Kaluga, admitted:

— For me, the words “I love my Fatherland!” not just words! I know this first hand!.. I lived in another country…

It was clear from the tone that he had suffered there.

– Don’t be afraid to be friends! – said the girl from the stage. – Don’t be afraid to be friends and smile!

The delegates looked around with such a feeling, as if they were still afraid.

– I have a friend, and he has a unique embodiment! — Stas More also convinced. “He is a two-time world champion in laughter!” He helps people be happy! Mikhail Efimov!

I was sure that Mikhail Efimov would now appear on stage and make everyone laugh. But for some reason, Vasily Pasechnik, “mentor of the Tavrida platform” and finalist of “The Voice,” came onto the stage.

— Friendship is not just words! – he supported after playing the guitar.

And Stas More supported him:

“A lot has happened in this room, but I haven’t seen us hug each other yet!” – he exclaimed. – I always hug a person when I meet him! Show your feelings! Truly close people do just that!

This was, of course, the moment of truth. And not everyone in the hall hugged, not even everyone.

But I saw how Tatyana Golikova stretched out her arms to Sergei Kiriyenko, who was close to her (at least the closest) and hugged him completely.

Yes, warm feelings were evident to the delight of Stas Mora.

And Maxim Oreshkin was hugging someone next to him doomedly.

– Tell your neighbor: “Thank you for being there!” – Stas More continued to press.

But no, for Tatyana Golikova this was not difficult either.

“Thank you for being there!” Stas More did not let up. “Even if I get tired and start to drift to the side (and it seems he was starting to.” A.K.) and somehow unconsciously, then you will support me with your shoulder!

And was it possible to doubt Sergei Kiriyenko? Never!

— I’m sure that during the broadcast the number of participants in the “First Movement” increased due to those who still doubted going over to the light side! – assured the presenter.

Any other side, presumably, is considered dark.

Finally the same song began to sound – “Forward, Russia!” And yet Oleg Gazmanov took his toll. This was his song of 2015. At this point everyone sang: “And if the crows fly to the enemies, my Fatherland will meet them again!” Since then they have swooped in. And they met.

And among other things, we met Vladimir Putin, who appeared on stage after this song. He walked around the stage with his left hand in his trouser pocket. He was among the youth. Moreover, among his own, which he himself invented.

— What is here (at the exhibition-forum “Russia.”— A.K.) presented, was once someone’s dream! – he told them. – You know, I remember postcards from the beginning of the last century in the Far East, in Vladivostok. It shows the bridge that people dreamed of. They dreamed that one day he would exist. And this was at the very beginning of the last century. Today there is this bridge, we built it, and another one, even larger than the one that people dreamed of, and many more achievements that we could not even dream of at one time!

And most importantly, it was now clear: dreaming is not harmful. And that alone is good. And for this already “thank you.”

– On the count of “three”: inhale – one, two, three! – the president shouted into the microphone.

And the audience exhaled: “Thank you!”

Next to the president on the stage was the singer and blogger Alisa Buslova, who wrote the anthem of the “First Movement” that she had already performed on this stage. She, standing on the left hand of Vladimir Putin, sang the Russian anthem a cappella, that is, without music. Vladimir Putin still had a microphone in his hands, and so he first offered it to Alisa Buslova, then suddenly began singing into it himself, and then alternately substituted it for other young people on stage, who performed with varying degrees of authenticity, so that the president was relieved seemed to return to Alisa Buslova several times, continuing, however, to persistently sing himself.

And this, it seems to me, if anyone expected it, they hardly counted on it. However, in such a situation it would hardly be possible to remain silent. And what would that look like?

So, the apotheosis took place.

Vladimir Putin left the stage, and Stas More, who remained on it, triumphantly filled the pause:

— We declare the second season of “Movement of the First” closed!

So this turns out to be a series.

Andrey Kolesnikov