Prilepin called to learn Swahili and read about life in North Korea.

      August 4, 2025, 17:31

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      Society NIА "Nizhny Novgorod" — Maria Orlova Russia and its elite need to rid themselves of vulgar Westernism and shift towards a policy of protectionism. This was stated by writer and Rosgvardiya Lieutenant Colonel Zakhar Prilepin at the opening of the regional educational program "Heroes. Nizhny Novgorod Region" on August 4.

      He noted that since 1991, many officials have built their lives based on integration with the West and now are unable or unwilling to work in Russia's interests. Therefore, in 2022, they were unprepared to accomplish the tasks set before them. Some of them, Prilepin said, have entirely left the country. In his opinion, participants of the "Heroes. Nizhny Novgorod Region" program should bring a different form of political thinking, one that leaves no room for the West.

      "Russia, of course, needs to establish its own protectionism. The country must be able to solve any problems: military, economic, agricultural, and others. And do so independently or with minimal partners. But protectionism can be not only economic. It must also involve creating a new political ruling elite — independent from external influences and focused solely on self-awareness as an independent subject. Russia is an absolute, totally independent entity," he said.

      The writer added that since political and economic elites have long been building their ability to exist through the West, it's difficult to immediately sever those ties and start cultivating friendships with those whom Russia and the president today propose and nominate as our new friends and partners.

      "This includes North Korea, China, India, Iran, and Latin American countries — primarily post-communist bloc countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua. There are also several African countries, mostly post-socialist as well. Today, the country perceives these allies as new partners, whereas our political elite often, in many cases and variants, is unwilling to recognize them as such," he said.

      He also recommended that participants of the SVO focus on studying BRICS, SCO, as well as the situations in India, Africa, Latin America, and other regions.

      "This will directly concern even a particular Nizhny Novgorod Region because these comrades will most likely be our main partners for the upcoming political season lasting a quarter of a century. We will inevitably build many different, complex relations with them. In this context, it would even be useful to learn some languages — Korean, Chinese, Swahili. Read books about how their lives evolved there, what their histories were. All of this will undoubtedly be useful. Honestly, I would even introduce a special course within the training programs called 'Time of Heroes'," — said the Rosgvardiya lieutenant colonel.

      Earlier, Zakhar Prilepin declared the inevitability of rebooting the Russian political system through SVO participants.

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