Russia's Youth: A Growing Wave of Violence and Its Roots

The Surge in Violence

In Russia, a troubling trend is unfolding. Young people are committing serious crimes at an alarming rate. This surge in violence is not happening in a vacuum. It is linked to the country's focus on war and the release of convicted criminals.

A Dangerous Mix of Factors

Experts point to a dangerous mix of factors:

• Glorification of Military Service: State TV and media glorify military service, exposing young people to violence.
• Pardon of Criminals: Thousands of criminals have been pardoned, creating a perfect storm of violence.
• Desensitization to Violence: Young people are exposed to violence in media and games, seeing it as normal.

Shocking Incidents

• Moscow: A 10-year-old boy was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old classmate. The killer also stabbed a security guard and a teacher. Authorities say white supremacist ideology fueled the attack.
• Crimea: Teenagers severely beat a schoolmate.
• Siberia: Two boys forced a classmate into deep snow and beat him.
• Irkutsk: A 14-year-old stabbed two people to death.
• Nizhny Novgorod: 13-year-olds kidnapped, beat, and tortured an elderly woman.

The Connection to War Rhetoric

The connection between this violence and the Kremlin's war rhetoric is clear:

• State TV and Media: Glorify military service and encourage teens to join the war.
• Fallout from War: Over 1,000 Russians have been killed or injured by returning soldiers since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Pardoning Criminals

One way to recruit soldiers is by pardoning criminals. Families of crime victims protest this practice, fearing that killers will return to society unpunished. The Kremlin defends this, saying the freed criminals are "atoning" for their crimes on the battlefield.

Shocking Cases

• Aleksey Chebotaryov: A hitman convicted of 12 murders. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison but was freed less than a month later to fight in Ukraine.
• Lawyer's Case: A lawyer killed his girlfriend and her 6-year-old son. He was later freed to fight in Ukraine.

Parents' Concerns

Parents are worried. Inna Sergeyeva, a mother in St. Petersburg, says her son and his friends play war games daily. She fears they do not see violence as a crime. They watch killing on TV, pretend to be killers on the street, and play violent video games.

Experts' Warnings

Experts warn that things will get worse. There are many guns on the black market. Any student can buy a gun online. This makes Russia a dangerous place for children.