07.05.2025 18:08
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How did the "Immortal Regiment" come into being, and whose interests does it serve?
Sanjar Said:
How did the "Immortal Regiment" come into being, and whose interests does it serve?
Every year, as May 9 approaches, the "Immortal Regiment" parade begins in some former Soviet countries. This march is banned somewhere, and the organizers, as usual, protest and make a fuss. Some ask: "What's wrong with commemorating the participants of World War II?" In fact, the former Soviet countries that have banned the "Immortal Regiment" parades do not deny their contribution to the victory in World War II, of course. Their concerns are related to another issue. Soviet military uniforms, photos of soldiers, St. George ribbons, other symbols reminiscent of the war and the Soviet Union... Are all of these really bad?..
The emergence of the "Immortal Regiment"
Let's first briefly look at when and where the "Immortal Regiment" event originated. The march was first held on May 9, 2012, in Tomsk, Russia, at the initiative of journalists Sergey Lapenkov, Sergey Kolotovkin, and Igor Dmitriev. The event involves carrying portraits of World War II veterans, those who worked behind the scenes, those who were imprisoned in concentration camps, and children of war.
Over time, the "Immortal Regiment" march became popular and was held not only throughout Russia, but also in other countries. By 2014, a public movement called "Immortal Regiment" was registered in Russia as a non-governmental non-profit organization.
On May 9, 2015, the first large-scale "Immortal Regiment" march was held on Red Square in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who carried a portrait of his father, also participated in it. That is, it was clearly demonstrated that this event was given state attention that year.
It was in 2015 that the movement “Immortal Regiment of Russia” was also organized. This movement is engaged in strengthening the state-ideological direction of the “Immortal Regiment” march, promoting this event in foreign countries. According to one of the leaders of the “Immortal Regiment” public movement, Sergey Lapenkov, the interference of the authorities in this event led to the loss of its original essence and its transformation into a completely fake action.
So, the "Immortal Regiment" event that originated in Tomsk, Russia, is being promoted every year in other countries, especially former Soviet countries. Someone will definitely push this event. "No, let's make May 9 our own, in line with our values, and celebrate it as a Day of Remembrance and Honor," you might say, and the local organizations of the "Immortal Regiment" will start to raise their voices on social media and go crazy with their peers.
The "Immortal Regiment" and the policy of "soft power"
A few years ago, Alisher Kadyrov, the leader of the “National Revival” party, criticized the “Immortal Regiment” event, saying : “It was clear that the “Immortal Regiment” is a demonstration of “soft power”, a tool for propaganda of Soviet unity. We are against such demonstrations! The Uzbek people have a significant role in the victory of humanity over fascism. The struggle of our fathers for freedom against the invaders and destructive nationalists must be remembered and appreciated until the end of time. For us, appreciation is not about walking their portraits around the city, but about praying for their souls, wishing them the best in the next world. We must cherish the pure memory of our martyrs, not once again sacrificing them for vile political purposes!”
Russian scholar and associate professor at the Southern Federal University Tatyana Podshibyakina also noted that the "Immortal Regiment" is an example of the "soft power" policy implemented by Russia in various countries. According to her, the event is promoted abroad using the information capabilities of Russian news agencies and major publications such as TASS, RIA Novosti, REGNUM, as well as Russian communities living abroad.
The term “soft power” was coined by the American scholar Joseph Nye. “Soft power” is a way to achieve a geopolitical goal without violence, and in this respect it differs from “hard (military) power.” According to political scientist Sukhrob Boronov, “soft power” in politics is the transformation of one’s own interests into the interests and desires of others. In this case, the idea proposed by one country to another ultimately serves the interests of the first.
So, what does Russia hope to achieve by using the Immortal Regiment event as a form of "soft power"?
It's no secret that Russia wants to keep the former Soviet countries within its sphere of influence. The Immortal Regiment is one of the tools that serves this desire.
Through the "Immortal Regiment" march, Russia is trying to unite the former Soviet states around historical memory and remind them that it is the main heir to the victory over fascism.
That is, he wants to say, "We were once a state, and under the leadership of Russia, we won the war."
The Immortal Regiment is an attempt to preserve the status of the Russian language, as the event is usually held in Russian. This serves to strengthen the sense of unity among Russian speakers abroad.
In general, this event is one of the means of maintaining cultural closeness between Russians and Russian-speakers living in the former Soviet states, as well as Russia.
The "Immortal Regiment" march is full of Soviet-era symbols and evokes nostalgia in those who miss the Soviet Union: the flag of the Soviet Union, Soviet military uniforms, people wearing clothes with the word USSR written on them, etc. Participants in the event wear St. George's ribbons on their chests, and this ribbon is drawn on one edge of the portraits (perhaps by doing this, Russia is trying to better present one of the symbols of its history of aggression, but we have not forgotten: the same ribbon "decorated" the medals "For the Conquest of the Kokand Khanate", "For the Campaign in Central Asia", "For the Campaign in the Khiva Khanate" awarded to Russian soldiers who invaded our lands).
As Russia seeks to strengthen its geopolitical influence in the former Soviet states through events like the Immortal Regiment, it does not take into account the values of the local peoples in those countries. For example, the Uzbek people do not carry portraits of their dead in memory of them, but rather recite the Fatiha prayer. However, if Russia were to leave it to us, we would have to spend May 9 not the way we want, but the way it wants, so it would try to impose the Immortal Regiment.
Muhammad Sharif
How did the "Immortal Regiment" come into being, and whose interests does it serve?
Every year, as May 9 approaches, the "Immortal Regiment" parade begins in some former Soviet countries. This march is banned somewhere, and the organizers, as usual, protest and make a fuss. Some ask: "What's wrong with commemorating the participants of World War II?" In fact, the former Soviet countries that have banned the "Immortal Regiment" parades do not deny their contribution to the victory in World War II, of course. Their concerns are related to another issue. Soviet military uniforms, photos of soldiers, St. George ribbons, other symbols reminiscent of the war and the Soviet Union... Are all of these really bad?..
The emergence of the "Immortal Regiment"
Let's first briefly look at when and where the "Immortal Regiment" event originated. The march was first held on May 9, 2012, in Tomsk, Russia, at the initiative of journalists Sergey Lapenkov, Sergey Kolotovkin, and Igor Dmitriev. The event involves carrying portraits of World War II veterans, those who worked behind the scenes, those who were imprisoned in concentration camps, and children of war.
Over time, the "Immortal Regiment" march became popular and was held not only throughout Russia, but also in other countries. By 2014, a public movement called "Immortal Regiment" was registered in Russia as a non-governmental non-profit organization.
On May 9, 2015, the first large-scale "Immortal Regiment" march was held on Red Square in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who carried a portrait of his father, also participated in it. That is, it was clearly demonstrated that this event was given state attention that year.
It was in 2015 that the movement “Immortal Regiment of Russia” was also organized. This movement is engaged in strengthening the state-ideological direction of the “Immortal Regiment” march, promoting this event in foreign countries. According to one of the leaders of the “Immortal Regiment” public movement, Sergey Lapenkov, the interference of the authorities in this event led to the loss of its original essence and its transformation into a completely fake action.
So, the "Immortal Regiment" event that originated in Tomsk, Russia, is being promoted every year in other countries, especially former Soviet countries. Someone will definitely push this event. "No, let's make May 9 our own, in line with our values, and celebrate it as a Day of Remembrance and Honor," you might say, and the local organizations of the "Immortal Regiment" will start to raise their voices on social media and go crazy with their peers.
The "Immortal Regiment" and the policy of "soft power"
A few years ago, Alisher Kadyrov, the leader of the “National Revival” party, criticized the “Immortal Regiment” event, saying : “It was clear that the “Immortal Regiment” is a demonstration of “soft power”, a tool for propaganda of Soviet unity. We are against such demonstrations! The Uzbek people have a significant role in the victory of humanity over fascism. The struggle of our fathers for freedom against the invaders and destructive nationalists must be remembered and appreciated until the end of time. For us, appreciation is not about walking their portraits around the city, but about praying for their souls, wishing them the best in the next world. We must cherish the pure memory of our martyrs, not once again sacrificing them for vile political purposes!”
Russian scholar and associate professor at the Southern Federal University Tatyana Podshibyakina also noted that the "Immortal Regiment" is an example of the "soft power" policy implemented by Russia in various countries. According to her, the event is promoted abroad using the information capabilities of Russian news agencies and major publications such as TASS, RIA Novosti, REGNUM, as well as Russian communities living abroad.
The term “soft power” was coined by the American scholar Joseph Nye. “Soft power” is a way to achieve a geopolitical goal without violence, and in this respect it differs from “hard (military) power.” According to political scientist Sukhrob Boronov, “soft power” in politics is the transformation of one’s own interests into the interests and desires of others. In this case, the idea proposed by one country to another ultimately serves the interests of the first.
So, what does Russia hope to achieve by using the Immortal Regiment event as a form of "soft power"?
It's no secret that Russia wants to keep the former Soviet countries within its sphere of influence. The Immortal Regiment is one of the tools that serves this desire.
Through the "Immortal Regiment" march, Russia is trying to unite the former Soviet states around historical memory and remind them that it is the main heir to the victory over fascism.
That is, he wants to say, "We were once a state, and under the leadership of Russia, we won the war."
The Immortal Regiment is an attempt to preserve the status of the Russian language, as the event is usually held in Russian. This serves to strengthen the sense of unity among Russian speakers abroad.
In general, this event is one of the means of maintaining cultural closeness between Russians and Russian-speakers living in the former Soviet states, as well as Russia.
The "Immortal Regiment" march is full of Soviet-era symbols and evokes nostalgia in those who miss the Soviet Union: the flag of the Soviet Union, Soviet military uniforms, people wearing clothes with the word USSR written on them, etc. Participants in the event wear St. George's ribbons on their chests, and this ribbon is drawn on one edge of the portraits (perhaps by doing this, Russia is trying to better present one of the symbols of its history of aggression, but we have not forgotten: the same ribbon "decorated" the medals "For the Conquest of the Kokand Khanate", "For the Campaign in Central Asia", "For the Campaign in the Khiva Khanate" awarded to Russian soldiers who invaded our lands).
As Russia seeks to strengthen its geopolitical influence in the former Soviet states through events like the Immortal Regiment, it does not take into account the values of the local peoples in those countries. For example, the Uzbek people do not carry portraits of their dead in memory of them, but rather recite the Fatiha prayer. However, if Russia were to leave it to us, we would have to spend May 9 not the way we want, but the way it wants, so it would try to impose the Immortal Regiment.
Muhammad Sharif