Russia proposes patriotic clothing for newborns to instill national pride from birth

A new initiative in Russia suggests wrapping newborns in clothing adorned with the national flag as their first attire, sparking debate over instilling patriotism at such a young age.

According to The Metro, this proposal is being championed by Tatyana Butskaya, a pro-government MP and deputy chairperson of the Russian parliament's committee on Family Protection, Fatherhood, Motherhood, and Childhood.

Butskaya advocates for distributing patriotic gifts featuring the Russian tricolour - white, blue, and red - to every newborn across the country, starting in 2025. She believes this gesture will promote a sense of national pride and belonging from birth. "This is when you are a patriot from the moment you are born," Butskaya told The Metro, emphasizing that the initiative is a symbolic way of showing that children are valued and important for Russia.

In addition to the clothing proposal, Butskaya has put forward plans to encourage Russian employers to support increasing birth rates, aligning with the Kremlin's goal of boosting the nation's population. She suggested that large families should be seen as part of Russia's new elite and encouraged governors and employers to monitor birth rates within their regions and workplaces.

Butskaya underscored that increasing the birth rate is a national priority, stating, "Each employer should look at their workplace and ask, 'Do we have one more child this year from each person who can give birth?' This is exactly how we should pose this question, and we will monitor it closely."

The initiative has sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning whether such patriotic symbolism should be introduced at birth.