Russian passports handed out to schoolchildren in Crimean children's center 'Artek'

The Russian occupation administration continues its campaign of forced passportization of Ukrainian youth in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Another action to issue Russian documents was held on the basis of the seized international children's center Artek.

This was reported by Holos Kryma.

It is noted that Russian documents were handed to 25 schoolchildren. The occupiers are using the children's institution as a platform for ideological pressure, trying to legitimize the annexation of the peninsula through demonstrative ceremonies and accelerate the artificial integration of adolescents into the legal field of the aggressor country. This practice is a systematic violation of international law aimed at eradicating Ukrainian identity among young people in the occupied territories.

The occupiers turned the ceremony into a propaganda show with the participation of representatives of law enforcement agencies and militarized movements. In particular, the event was attended by the heads of the migration department of the Kremlin-controlled Crimean Ministry of Internal Affairs and representatives of the Russian army with the titles of 'heroes of Russia'.

The first passports were given to 25 schoolchildren who were brought to Artek from different regions. This action took place within the framework of the special program "We are Russian citizens", which is supervised by the Kremlin-controlled organization "Movement of the First", which is engaged in the ideological education of young people on the basis of Russian patriotism and loyalty to the regime.

As a reminder, the occupation administration has intensified its efforts to force passportization in the temporarily occupied Kherson region. It has involved young people in these activities.

"We need to conduct a sociological survey of 100 people with the following questions: Do you have a Russian passport? Why not? What would it take for you to get one?" the movement said in a statement.

Obviously, this information is not just for statistics. The occupiers are using students as a tool for data collection and manipulation, trying to create the appearance of voluntary passportization.

Катерина Глушко