Young, energetic and ambitious: the best Young Guards of the Volga Federal District honed the art of argumentation at open debates.

      15 August 2025 15:52

        [166]

       Society

      In the capital of the Volga Federal District, winners of the Young Guard project "PolitZavod" from various regions of the VFD met in a decisive oratorical showdown. The debate tournament "CTD" or "What's Up with the Debates?" was held on the "KUPNO. Start" platform. Twenty-three people took part in the competition. Eight reached the final.

      "It is very good that the final of this contest is being held right here in Nizhny Novgorod. I would note that many Nizhny Novgorod politicians grew up precisely from the ranks of the Young Guard. And the guys who gathered here today are new blood. They come with their ideas and new projects that we will implement together so that our country and region become better," said Alexey Antonov, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and head of the United Russia faction in the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      The level of participants in the district competition in the "Debates" category was evaluated by an expert jury. Its members included: Alexey Antonov, Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and head of the United Russia faction in the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region; Dmitry Filipenko, head of the regional executive committee of the Nizhny Novgorod regional branch of the United Russia party; Alexander Amelin, head of the Central Headquarters of the All-Russian Public Organization "Young Guard of United Russia", veteran of the special military operation, recipient of the Order of Courage; and Roman Zykov, leader of the regional branch of the "Young Guard of United Russia" in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, veteran of the special military operation.

      "The level the guys are showing today is very high. Each of the debate participants has serious chances of becoming a successful politician in the future. Today we saw young people competing in the art of managing the word. And that is the most important thing in politics: the word can be both a weapon and a remedy. It is gratifying that such youth see themselves together with United Russia," said Dmitry Filipenko, head of the regional executive committee of the Nizhny Novgorod regional branch of the United Russia party.

      The contestants defended their positions in an improvisational format. Topics for discussion were announced in real time. To the obvious pleasure of the jury, the Young Guard members skillfully used political arguments on all issues. At the end of the round the losers were theatrically removed — thrown onto mats beneath the stand.

      During the "CTD" debate tournament the participants discussed current political topics and a number of practical issues:

      - working in the office and remotely;

      - harms and benefits of the Internet;

      - broad-based and narrowly specialized education.

      "The Young Guard is a forge of personnel, leaders of public opinion who will lead the country forward in the near future. Today we saw that the competition among the guys has a constructive character. No one resorted to personal attacks or went negative. On the contrary, the debate atmosphere was friendly. And each time participants found new arguments, reasons, and examples. It is very interesting to watch constructive competition. Friendship is fun and, most importantly, effective," said Roman Zykov, leader of the regional branch of the "Young Guard of United Russia" in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, veteran of the special military operation.

      As a result of the competitions, the winners of the district stage of the federal Young Guard project "PolitZavod" in the "Debates" category were determined:

      1st place - Yegor Davlyatshin (Perm Krai)

      2nd place - Aleksandra Ishutova (Tatarstan)

      3rd place - Nikolay Kulikov (Samara Region)

      "Being able to argue your position, to prove one point of view or another, is important not only in politics. In any sphere of activity oratorical skills play a key role. The ability to build communication and persuade is a cross-professional skill. So whatever path the guys choose in the future, the experience they gained participating in the 'PolitZavod' project will definitely come in handy," emphasized Ivan Kalmykov, Chairman of the Regional Public Council of the "Historical Memory" project of the United Russia party and Vice-Rector of KUPNO.

      The winners will represent their regions and the Volga Federal District at the federal forum in "Gvardeysk."

      "It is very nerve-wracking to perform before such a serious jury and such a large audience. We trained a lot and today performed at the maximum of our abilities. All opponents showed a high level. The strongest won, and even to lose in such strong competition I consider honorable. And to the guys who took the prize places, I wish you to perform with dignity at the all-Russian level," shared Roman Cheburakhin (Samara Region), a participant in the CTD district debate tournament for the VFD.

      The project is aimed at identifying and supporting energetic and ambitious young people interested in political activity. The goal of "PolitZavod" is to prepare a new generation of political leaders and create a personnel reserve for public administration through practice-oriented training. The project is being implemented in 50 regions of the country; more than 300 young people will graduate from it and receive recommendations for obtaining a deputy mandate at various levels.

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