Tank, fences, NKVD: Ryazan's Russia Day from the Federal Penitentiary Service
At the festival, they sold souvenirs from prisoners, tried on "baby" bulletproof vests and helmets, disassembled a machine gun, and answered questions from an "NKVD officer."
"You'll be able to explore an exhibition of modern weapons and armored vehicles. At the interactive "Bogatyr Fun" area, Ryazan residents will meet Russian warriors of the 14th century and members of the NKVD internal troops. And during the military-patriotic game "Crime and Punishment," boys and girls will receive tasks from two bogatyrs from the era of Yaroslav the Wise (11th century) and two Tsarist Streltsy (17th century)." youwas walking The announcement of events for Russia Day and the correspondent went to get some impressions.
Particularly intriguing was the report about one of the event's organizers—the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Ryazan Region. NeMoskva reports on how it all happened.
One of the festive venues was located in the Central Park of Culture and Leisure. Police and National Guard vehicles were parked right at the entrance to the park, security forces were stationed at the park entrances and near the Green Theater itself, and, for some reason, a van from a mobile recruitment center for contract military service was stationed in the bushes. In short, the festive atmosphere was immediately palpable. Fan barriers and metal detectors were set up around the area, creating a long line. However, the uniformed personnel did not make any gestures and allowed everyone to pass.
There were several interactive areas. The first was an exhibition and sale of prisoner merchandise: chess sets, backgammon, cutting boards, metal stands, various versions of the Russian coat of arms, and a mannequin in khaki clothing. This was likely a product of the prison sewing workshop. Whether the organizers intended this exhibition to entice guests into becoming prisoners or into becoming Federal Penitentiary Service employees remains unclear.
Next came the actual children's playgrounds, which didn't particularly attract the children—a bright and visual demonstration of traffic rules and a photo exhibition about Ryazan. The photographs depict the domes of the Ryazan Kremlin, nature, sunrises and sunsets, and in the bottom row are two identical children's drawings. They depict a dove (probably a dove of peace) carrying a St. George ribbon and a tricolor ribbon in its beak. Beneath the bird, on one side, the sun shines and a rainbow sparkles; on the other, tanks move and shells explode. The explosions are depicted under the bird's tail, and a peaceful landscape is beneath the ribbons. Truly festive.
The Green Theater itself is an open-air theater. The auditorium is occupied by cadets on the right side, cadets on the left, and civilian spectators in the center. Patriotic songs blare from the stage, and the audience waves Russian flags. An electronic sign is installed at the entrance to the theater. It reads "UFSIN of Russia for the Ryazan Region" against a double-headed eagle.
Next, the kids fight each other and their dads with inflatable swords. And then—you can't get close, because there's something very interesting there. And indeed: a young man in an NKVD uniform asks the children and their parents fascinating questions. For example, what is "property confiscation" and what couldn't be confiscated from convicts in the last century? Or what was the punishment for coercing an abortion? An eight-year-old boy immediately asked his uncle what an "abortion" was, and the quiz host didn't hesitate: "Your mother will explain that to you later."
Those who passed the first round of the quiz were rewarded: they were sent to the second "NKVD" officer to disassemble and reassemble a rifle.
There was also a royal strelets with an axe; the kids were examining his clothes and weapons.
The further we went, the more exciting it became. At the next "point," modern-day fighters in black balaclavas were already waiting. Here, the kids tried on children's bulletproof vests and helmets of various sizes, examined and handled rubber truncheons, and their parents inevitably took photos of them as souvenirs. One of the fighters explained that it wasn't enough to be a patriot; one also had to be able to defend the Motherland, and that defense began with the ability to carry heavy body armor and all the other equipment, including weapons. Both boys and girls of all ages were eager to touch the machine guns.
Finally, the final "attraction" was an armored vehicle with a hatch on the roof. Every now and then, a child's hand, a sunhat, or even a child's entire head would emerge, which mothers and fathers would immediately remove. The Shaman's songs could be heard from the stage.
Hundreds of people had already gathered at the site, and guests kept arriving. Only one site remained empty—the tent of the center for converting civilians into contract soldiers. In front of it, a similarly lonely and unclaimed weight lay lonely—probably for the future soldier to demonstrate his heroic strength "on the shore." An ice cream parlor stood nearby. There was a line for ice cream, but no line for a contract soldier. What could this mean?
P.S. When the material was ready, the author noticed that the entertainment program was continuing. This time -Russian bingo" from the Ryazan administration on social media. Residents are invited to test themselves to see if they are truly Russian. You are genuine if you "watch the president's address with your whole family," "think Russian girls are the most beautiful in the world," and "laugh at 'evil Russians' from Hollywood movies." If not all 16 statements match, you may be of interest. At least, that same young man who spoke about the confiscation may.
