The nationwide Russian initiative called the First Movement for Children and Youth, a campaign spanning all regions of Russia, announced a bold milestone: this academic year will witness more than 500,000 young residents receiving their first passports during official ceremonies, a figure confirmed by the movement’s press service. The program aims to instill a tangible sense of citizenship and belonging among the younger generation, marking a meaningful rite of passage in the country’s civic life.
Early participants in the campaign included hundreds of youngsters from the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Altai Territory, and the republics of Dagestan and Tatarstan, as well as from the Kaliningrad, Astrakhan, Tula, Novosibirsk, and Orenburg regions, in addition to youth from Moscow. This broad geographic participation underscores the nationwide scale and inclusive spirit of the effort, bringing together children from diverse regions and backgrounds to share in a common national experience.
According to Grigory Gurov, who serves as the Chairman of the Board of the First Movement for Children and Youth of Russia, the tradition of presenting 14-year-old students with their first passport has long been a meaningful moment in the country. Yet for years it suffered from inconsistency, a lack of seriousness, and a sense that the moment was merely ceremonial. Gurov emphasized that the receipt of this essential personal document should be a genuine, memorable event for every teenager, signaling a conscious step into adulthood and civic life.
The all-Russian action is designed to nurture a civic and patriotic stance among the younger generation, fostering a strong sense of identity and responsibility for the nation’s future. In the initial participating regions, support for the initiative came from high levels of local leadership. In Moscow, the ceremony featured a notable guest of honor, Alexei Shaposhnikov, the head of the Moscow City Duma, who personally presented passports at the Moscow City Duma building, reinforcing the campaign’s official endorsement and symbolic significance.
It is important to note that the Movement for Children and Youth of Russia was established by presidential decree, with the constituent assembly convened on July 20, 2022. This formal origin situates the initiative within a broader framework of youth engagement and national service, signaling a state-backed commitment to fostering youthful civic involvement and a shared sense of national identity across the country. The campaign continues to be presented as a platform for young people to participate in the social and political life of the nation, with the passport ceremony serving as a visible, collective recognition of their evolving role in society.