“The Spirit of the Law” and the Duty to Defend the Country

Today, Russian schools held another round of the weekly patriotic lesson series “Conversations About Important Things”, this time dedicated to Constitution Day. The lesson was titled “Law and Justice”, and the main visual featured a portrait of Putin. Students were told that justice is the foundation of Russian law, and that the Constitution is the result of a long and difficult historical journey — “the culmination of a movement toward justice.”

One of the discussion questions was: “Why has the pursuit of justice always defined Russian society throughout history?”

A required part of the lesson was an interview with Elina Sidorenko, head of the “White Internet” initiative and member of the Presidential Human Rights Council. According to Sidorenko, the Russian state is founded on deep historical continuity, a cultural code, and the “spirit of the law.”

She stated that the Constitution enshrines core values — clear and transparent rules that ensure freedom, national self-identification, and boundaries of what is permissible. Understanding the “spirit of the law,” she emphasized, allows society to be fair and transparent.

Students were also told that even at a young age, they already have state-guaranteed rights — free medical care, protection by police and emergency services, and access to free school education. Teachers emphasized that the state “cares for every citizen throughout their life,” but in return, citizens must obey the law and defend their country.

“On one side of the scale are every citizen’s rights: to life, health care, education. On the other — responsibilities: to obey the law, defend the country, protect the environment, preserve cultural and historical heritage, and pursue education.”

At the end of the lesson, high schoolers were invited to discuss how laws relate to ‘traditional values’, and whether Russian law is based on those values.

As a bonus material, children were offered a short film from the Movement of the First titled “Constitution Day.” In the film, a student falls asleep during class and has a dystopian dream, where the Constitution is abolished and he loses his right to free education, freedom of creativity, and freedom of movement. He wakes up relieved that it was only a dream — and grateful the Russian Constitution still exists.