Russian lawmaker calls for developing patriotism as Russia’s national idea

Russia needs a national idea based on patriotism, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko told TASS.

"In any country, history forms a system of values," moral authority, traditions that become part of the spiritual life of the country, Matviyenko said. "It is not brought down from above but rather forms within the society," she added noting that "the national idea that is discussed so much and so often, is precisely what unites people, brings people together."

"In this sense, I agree with the president of our country, that today the national idea is patriotism," the lawmaker said. Patriotism "is not politicized, it does not represent the interests of this or that party, of this or that social stratum," she continued. Instead, it "brings together those who consider Russia to be their Fatherland," she noted. "There is no coercion here, like ‘you should be a patriot’. Everyone here freely decides for himself," Matviyenko said.

"Patriotism is love for your land, for your Fatherland, for your family, for your Motherland," she went on. "Everybody who shares these values, consider themselves patriots. That’s why I think that we should talk about this national idea now, we should develop it. There is should be no mandatory ideology from above, in my opinion," she concluded.

Source: TASS