Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for more patriotic education for his country's youth to protect them from foreign influences in what he views as a global ideological battle.
"There is a tough battle in the world for hearts and minds, for ideological and informational influence," Putin said at a government meeting on Thursday, cautioning against "artificial conflicts" stirred by foreign states, including among different ethnicities.
"We need constant, systematic work that would defend the country, our youth, from these risks, that would serve to fortify civic solidarity and harmony between nationalities."
Putin lamented the "process of destruction of the so-called traditional spiritual and moral values" in the world, which he said give rise to neo-Nazi views, and said there should be new legislation to prevent the "rebirth" of such views.
Russia should think about bettering its "state program of patriotic education," Putin said.
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In an ongoing standoff with the West over Ukraine, the Kremlin is pursuing an increasingly isolationist cultural policy.
Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky echoed Putin's call, suggesting on Thursday that there should not be too much foreign language instruction and that yoga taught at community centres should be dropped in favour of Russian cooking classes.
