Russian President Vladimir Putin projected an image of strength and resilience on the global stage. This prediction infected the confidence and ambition of many of his staff. This is especially true of the country’s religious groups, especially the Cossacks, an ultra-conservative faith group dating back to the 15th century. Putin’s Pride: Cossacks and the Church explores the religious group’s growing influence in Russia and how their embrace of the president has proven mutually beneficial.
During Soviet rule, the Cossacks were largely outlawed. But many previously banned traditions are making a comeback in modern Russia, including the Russian Orthodox Church. Today, these groups are seen as an essential part of instilling a strong sense of pride, patriotism and loyalty in the president. The Cossacks are among Putin’s most ardent and valuable supporters today.
Tradition conveys a sense of comfort, stability and normality, especially after great conflict and violence.
State-funded Cossack schools teach these ancient traditions daily, in addition to a series of daily military drills, encouraging students to view their president with great respect. Elites see the economy as strong and have enduring confidence in their leaders. Putin has often lured their continued support with incentives, including building or restoring more than a thousand Cossack churches a year for the past decade.
According to the film, Putin understood the value of such support and positioned himself as a great advocate of orthodoxy. Instead, these ultra-conservative groups enjoy dominance in their governments. They actively intervened to support police efforts to quell public protests. They work hard to suppress political candidates who dare to oppose Putin’s policies. They turned to the news media and declared homosexuality a sin. A popular TV presenter even offered free plane tickets to the US to gay people in Russia. They have also made strides in firing public educators who may hold more liberal views.
Putin’s Pride: Cossacks and the Church is a portrait that reveals the support systems that have helped the Russian president hold a firm grip on the hearts and minds of his fellow citizens.
Directed by: Sébastien Bardos, Guillaume Dumant
