Traditional values are the moral precepts shaping Russian citizens’ worldview,
handed down from one generation to another and forming the foundation of Russia’s
national civic identity and the country’s single cultural space, as well as reinforcing
civic unity, and they are reflected in the unique and authentic spiritual, historical and
cultural development path of Russia’s multi-ethnic people.
Traditional values include life, dignity, human rights and freedoms, patriotism,
civic consciousness, service to the Fatherland and responsibility for its destiny, high
moral ideals, strong families, productive labour, the primacy of the spiritual over
corporeal, humanism, charity, justice, collectivism, mutual assistance and mutual
respect, historical memory and the continuity of generations, as well as the unity of
Russia’s peoples.
Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and other religions which are an
integral part of Russia’s historical and spiritual heritage have had a considerable
influence on the emergence of the traditional values shared by believers and nonbelievers alike. The Orthodox faith has played a special role in the emergence and
strengthening of traditional values.
The Russian Federation views traditional values as the foundation of Russian
society, enabling it to defend and strengthen its sovereignty, ensure the unity of our
country with its diverse ethnic and religious structure, preserve the people of Russia
and enable them to develop their human potential.
10. State policy to preserve and strengthen traditional values is implemented in
the spheres of education, work with young people, culture, research, inter-ethnic and
inter-faith relations, mass media and communications, and international cooperation.
Federal executive agencies in charge of defence, national security, internal affairs,
public order and other government agencies are responsible for carrying out this state
policy within their respective areas of purview.
The efforts made in the Russian Federation to develop the spiritual potential of
the people are increasing the cohesion of Russian society and public awareness of
the importance of preserving and strengthening traditional values amid the global
civilisational and values crisis, which is leading to the loss of traditional spiritual and
moral bearings and moral principles.
The National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation assesses that the
situation in Russia and the world requires emergency measures to defend traditional
values.
Threats to traditional values come from extremist and terrorist organisations,
some news media and communication platforms, the actions of the United States and
other unfriendly foreign states, several transnational corporations and foreign NGOs,
as well as the activities of some organisations and individuals in the territory of
Russia.
Ideological and psychological influences on citizens are leading to the
dissemination of a system of ideas and values that are alien to the Russian people
and destructive for Russian society (hereinafter referred to as “destructive
ideology”), such as the fostering of egoism, permissiveness and immorality,
rejection of the ideals of patriotism, service to the Fatherland, the natural progression
of life, the values of a strong family, marriage, raising multiple children, productive
labour, and Russia’s positive contribution to global history and culture, as well as
the erosion of the traditional family through the promotion of non-traditional sexual
identities.
Destructive ideological influences on Russian citizens are threatening the
demographic health of the country.
The dissemination of destructive ideology entails the following risks:
– emergence of conditions for the self-destruction of society and the erosion of
family, friendship and other social ties;
– accelerated socio-cultural stratification, decline of the role of social
partnership, and devaluation of the ideas of productive labour and mutual assistance;
– damage to the moral health of the people, imposition of concepts that
disregard human dignity and the value of human life;
– promotion of antisocial behaviour, dissolute lifestyles, permissiveness and
violence, growing alcoholism and drug addiction;
– emergence of a society that rejects spiritual and moral values;
– distortion of historical truth and erosion of historical memory;
– rejection of Russian authenticity, weakening of the national civic identity and
cohesion of the multi-ethnic Russian people, development of conditions for
interethnic and interfaith conflicts;
– erosion of confidence in government institutions, discreditation of the idea of
service to the Fatherland, and development of a negative attitude to military service
and government service in general.
State policy to preserve and strengthen traditional values shall have the
following goals:
– to preserve and strengthen traditional values and ensure that they are passed
on from generation to generation;
– to counter the spread of destructive ideology;
– to position the Russian state on the international stage as a custodian and
defender of traditional universal spiritual and moral values.
Implementing the strategic national priority titled Defending Traditional
Russian Spiritual and Moral Values, Culture and Historical Memory entails
delivering on the following objectives set forth in state policy to preserve and
strengthen traditional values:
– to strengthen civic unity, national civic identity and Russian singularity, interethnic and inter-faith harmony based on the unifying role played by traditional
values;
– to preserve historical memory, counter attempts to falsify history, safeguard
the historical experience that gave rise to traditional values and the way they impact
the course of Russian history, including the lives and work of Russia’s outstanding
figures;
– to preserve, reinforce and promote traditional family values, including
marriage as a union between a man and a woman, to ensure generational continuity,
care for the elderly so that they can live in dignity, and to promote the importance of
perpetuating the people of Russia as a top national strategic priority;
– to support organisations of traditional religions, and enable them to contribute
to activities designed to preserve traditional values, and to counter destructive
religious movements;
– to safeguard and support the Russian language as the language of a stateforming nation, to ensure that the norms of today’s Russian literary language are
respected, including preventing any use of obscene language, and to counter
excessive use of foreign words;
– to enhance Russia’s global role by promoting traditional spiritual and moral
values based on long-standing universal values.
Efforts to implement state policy to preserve and strengthen traditional values
are designed to help maintain and expand the population of Russia, preserve national
civic identity, develop human potential, sustain civil peace and accord in the country,
strengthen the rule of law and order, build a safe information space, shield Russian
society from the spread of destructive ideology, achieve national development goals,
and enhance the competitiveness and international prestige of the Russian
Federation.