Pussy Riot members involved: Masha Alekhina, Olga Borisova, Diana Burkot, Lucy Shtein


“Forced patriotism” lessons have been introduced in Russian schools. Teachers force kids to form a Z formation to show support for the war. All over Russia, children are forced to write “good letters” to occupying soldiers. Fifth-grader Timofey wrote in a letter that he wishes the military “to return home, not to kill people on foreign soil and not to cause harm.” The teacher condemned the child, he was bullied for “insufficient patriotism.” “Soldier, don’t kill people” was written by a boy, and this inspired us to write a song.

New history textbooks have already been distributed to high school students. To pass the exam and receive a certificate, schoolchildren must memorize propaganda — talk about the greatness of Russia, which is bravely fighting the fascists in Ukraine. Children are protesting — sixth-grader Masha Moskaleva made an anti-war drawing against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Her single father was sent to prison for two years for “discrediting the Russian army,” and Masha was sent to an orphanage.

Russian state propaganda poisons people's hearts and brains with hatred. Putin's propagandists are no less war criminals than the soldiers who kill and rape the civilian population of Ukraine, or the generals who give these orders.

Russian authorities are holding thousands of Ukrainian children hostage for more than a year. Children are kept in sanatoriums, where they are taught to love Russia, and if the children say that they miss Ukraine or speak Ukrainian, they are beaten. These children are often recognized as orphans and given up for adoption, although most have parents in Ukraine who are trying to find them and return them. Children are the most vulnerable in this war. Children should not suffer. We demand the immediate release of all abducted Ukrainian children.

​​WE DEMAND:
Russian state:
to stop poisoning children with your fascism propaganda!
immediately return back all kidnapped Ukrainian children

The rest of the world:
to sanction Russian propagandists and Russian artists that serve this fascist propaganda.


Lyrics: Maria Alekhina, Olga Borisova, Diana Burkot, Daria Serenko, Lucy Shtein

Music: Diana Burkot

orchestral arrangement: Kjartan Sveinsson

Instruments:

violin: María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir
cello: Gyða Valtýsdóttir
trumpet: Snorri Sigurðarson,
Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson
trombone: Samúel Jón Samúelsson,
Ingi Garðar Erlendsson

Record: Ása Ólafsdóttir