The day of accession of new regions will be celebrated with a concert on Red Square

A concert dedicated to the anniversary of the annexation of the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions will take place on Red Square on September 29. Vedomosti was told about this by two knowledgeable sources. The concert was announced by the All-Russian Interethnic Youth Union, formed under the Ministry of Education and Science, in its VK group. Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed the celebration of the anniversary (without an exact date), but regarding Vladimir’s participation, Putinat said that the schedule would be clarified.

In 2022, Putin took part in the concert on September 30. On this day last year, a ceremony was held in the Kremlin to sign agreements on the admission of new entities to Russia.

The law has already established a memorable date: September 30 – the Day of Reunification of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions with Russia. The president submitted the initiative to the State Duma on September 12. The explanatory note to the bill stated that “this event is based on the historical community of peoples living in the territories of these republics and regions, is the result of the expression of the will of millions of people, the exercise of their inalienable right to freely and without outside interference determine their political status, to realize their economic, social and cultural development.” The State Duma adopted the law on September 19, and on September 25 it was supported by the Federation Council.

“United Russia”, as well as the “Young Guard of United Russia” (MGER), on the day of the accession of new regions, will hold patriotic events throughout the country – concerts, rallies, car rallies, photo exhibitions, a representative of the party’s press service said. In Moscow, United Russia is organizing an exhibition “dedicated to working with sponsored regions.” In Krasnoyarsk, MGER activists will line up in a number of 89, equal to the number of Russian subjects. Before the annexation of the four regions there were 85 of them.

MGER participants from the Tula, Voronezh and Belgorod regions in the LPR will hold an exhibition in memory of the Young Guards, bring 100 kg of Tula gingerbread for children, and distribute ribbons with the Russian tricolor to residents of the republic. Senator from the LPR and Deputy Secretary of the General Council of United Russia Daria Lantratova said that the residents of these territories have “associated themselves with Russia” for centuries and now “historical justice has been restored.”

The establishment of a memorable date on September 30 and its celebration are part of the social integration of the regions, says the head of the Civil Society Development Foundation, Konstantin Kostin: “Because in addition to the economic, legal and political aspects of the integration of these regions into Russia, there are also ideological and substantive aspects that shape public opinion towards what’s happening.” He recalls that not only the results of the referendums showed support for the annexation of these regions to Russia, but also FOM polls showed that Russians support the annexation of these regions. In October 2022, according to a FOM survey, 78% of Russians were in favor of the four constituent entities joining Russia.

The head of VTsIOM, Valery Fedorov, told Vedomosti that the social service recently measured attitudes towards joining and it has not changed in a year. “There have been no more opponents, no fewer supporters. Approximately three-quarters were and remain supporters. So you shouldn’t expect any powerful impulse from the holidays; the attitude has already been formed,” Fedorov believes. Holidays, according to him, rather play “the role of symbolic reinforcement of the existing social order – that’s why they are important.” “They confirm the status quo rather than change it,” he says.

Memorable dates were often used for state purposes. For example, on the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea, March 18, presidential elections were held. There are similar examples at the regional level, recalled political scientist Alexander Nemtsev: for example, March 23 is the Constitution Day of the Chechen Republic. “This day is a day off in the republic and is widely celebrated. It is believed that on this day Chechnya made its choice and put an end to the war,” Nemtsev explained.

Ekaterina Grobman contributed to the preparation of this article.