Faces of Russian Patriotism
A new surge of patriotism linked to World War II can be felt in Putin's Russia, as the 70th anniversary of "The Great Patriotic War" approaches. Soviet hero myths are driving a new national militarisation.
"As long as the War is remembered, everything is justified", says political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin. With Russia preparing to mark 70 years since the end of the conflict in which 25 million Soviets lost their lives, many anticipate a new state-led exploitation of the associated patriotism. "Almost every family in Russia has someone who died in this war and it's natural it should be important. It is different when the state starts to exploit it to fill Russians with the sense that again they are surrounded by external enemies."
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