"If they call, I will be happy to go"

A rally concert was held on Manezhnaya Square in support of the “referenda”. On it, to Chicherina’s songs, Putin praised Putin and rejoiced at mobilization. Report "Medusa"

In Moscow, a rally-concert was held on the Manezhnaya Square in support of the “referenda on joining Russia”, which are held in the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR, as well as in the territories of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions of Ukraine seized by the Russian army. The All -Russian Popular Front (ONF) announced this event on September 21 - on the day when Vladimir Putin announced the "partial mobilization" in Russia. The organization has already reported about 50 thousand who came to Manezhnaya. Medusa visited the rally and learned from its participants why they decided to celebrate the holding of “referenda” in the occupied territories and how they relate to the opportunity to go to war themselves.

At the Okhotny Ryad station-one of the closest to Manezhnaya Square-is not shy, although to a rally concert only half an hour. With a folded Russian flag in the lobby, only one person - and he goes into the opposite side of the event.

The area itself is fenced with fences. There are Rosgvardists around the perimeter. On the screen above the stage - a broadcast of a concert from Donbass. However, what kind of concert it is is not explained.

What is ONF and why does he organize a rally?

ONF is a socio-political movement formed in 2011 at the initiative of Vladimir Putin when he was the chairman of the government. The creation of the ONF occurred on the eve of the 2012 presidential election and was part of the campaign in support of Putin. The tasks of the movement were called control over the execution of decrees and instructions of the president, the fight against corruption and squandering, ineffective spending of state funds, improving the quality of life and protecting the rights of citizens. The movement really periodically publishes the “indexes of the wastefulness of the authorities and state -owned companies”, but for the most part it fulfills the political tasks of the authorities. For example, he prepares candidates for United Russia or arranges youth pro-government forums. Now the ONF is, in particular, to raise funds to support military self -proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.

The frame at the entrance has a crowd, but there are almost no loners in it. The audience stand in groups, companies of single -party ones or work colleagues.

“So, they took a picture for the report. There are six people, there are two left, ”the girl argues with a bright makeup with hearts on the eyelids and departs from the fence.

The next rally, designed to demonstrate popular support for the decisions of the Russian government, was no different from the previous ones in the methods of attracting spectators. According to the observations of the Medusa correspondent, many in the square admitted that they were asked to come to their studies or work at the “festive concert”.

"Medusa" is known at least about two state -owned companies who sent their employees to Manezhnaya. In one of them, the leaders of scientific units were ordered to send five people to the rally, and in some departments they recorded everyone in general.

“They approached mainly to those who support everything. People who for voluntarily agreed to go. Someone, holding a neutral position, will go for money, ”said the interlocutor of Medusa at the company before the rally, noting that there was no reason to refuse to refuse to appear at manifold.

In another state -owned company, they demanded to “ensure the appearance” of at least two people from the department, a company employee told Meduza. But they did not offer money for this.

Not far from the scene - with a dozen photographing companies. Someone shows the sign V with their fingers, others hug colleagues. Against the background of raised flags, a group of students of Moscow Pedagogical University is trying to take a selfie. One of the participants in the photo shoot explains to Medusa that they were “asked” for a concert, but “not strongly”.

“No, we ourselves wanted to,” the young man who photographs the audience working in the Aviation Complex named after S. V. Ilyushin answers the same question. "What is bad?"

“I grew up in the USSR. Can I think that this is my land? " - In high colors, a middle -aged man argues in the company of comrades in black quilted jackets. This, apparently, is about the Donbass.

Not far from the company is a lonely pensioner in the beret. He is dressed a little warmer than others and, perhaps, therefore holds more confidently, without junk from the wind, like other participants in the rally. The man says that before perestroika he worked “for defense”, and then engaged in business. And he decided to come to Manezhnaya after a call from the “district council” - because, “like the whole people”, he wants to “support his own.”

“Our that is. Age does not allow to maintain any more. Of course, any mobilization is not good. This is bad, like any war. But now is such a situation that they came up with it, ”he argues. - If it were younger, then I would also go [fight]. Now is age. "

The flags of the USSR and the Banner of Victory are unfolding in the crowd. Some carry several banners at once. “So as not to touch it later, ***** [damn]. Removed? " - ending to pose, the man asks in a black leather jacket from his comrade. He has three Russian flags in his hands, his comrade has two.

The concert, as planned, begins at 17:00. He is conducted by the TV presenter and member of the Central Headquarters of the Popular Front Denis Polunchukov and the military unit of Channel One Irina Kuksenkova.

Before the official start of the concert on the screens, a video is shown about Oksana from Donetsk and her life in a self -proclaimed DPR. True, it is almost impossible to guess either by the image, nor according to the image, as it is said.

At the end of the video, Oksana herself - in military uniform - is invited to the stage. “I want to become a citizen of Russia. Dear mother Russia, save us, ”she says, echoing the chapter of Russia Today Margarita Simonyan. At the end of the speech, the girl, wiping tears with both hands, shouts: "We are Russia!"

“For this purpose, we will stand to the end,” says Killer Kuksenkov and announces the performance of the music group “Ours”.

“What kind of“ ours ”group? " Nurses " or what? " - With a sincere misunderstanding, a guy of about twenty with a neatly trimmed beard asks his friends.

Nobody sings "ours". Rare participants without flags in their hands take off their performance on the phones. A crowd of photographers is replaced by a crowd of leaving the concert.

- Igor Markovich, let's go!

- Where?

“At home,” says a dark -haired girl with a mustachioed man after the first song “ours” - about the battle with enemies and “Russia behind us” (the host of Polunchukov reminds the assembled after its end that “everyone supports the President of the Russian Federation”).

Then, the heads of all parliamentary parties perform with short speeches. The Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov recalls the beginning of the Great Patriotic War and lamentes that "the Nazis, Nazis and ceremonies again seized power [in Ukraine]."

And the head of the Duma faction of the LDPR Leonid Slutsky states that right now, in the "liberated" (that is, occupied) territories, residents vote on "references on accession to the Russian Federation." In the interpretation of the deputy, this is a vote for the future, free "from the Ukrainian Nazis, from those who have committed crimes for the last eight and a half years."

- The Ukrainian Nazis shame, shame, shame! - shouts Slutsky, but the crowd does not support him. The LDPR leader is not embarrassed and calls for choosing the “Great Russian World” and repuls the United States: “Today we must give an answer to the collective West.” Russia supports the world. For the world!

- Hooray! - the audience answers modestly.

The head of Fair Russia, Sergei Mironov, in Slutsky, also expresses “unconditional” support to Vladimir Putin and says mostly slogans: “We are for the president, the referendum is the road home, our power is in truth, the victory will be behind us.”

“We remember the Napoleonic European Union, remember the Nazi European Union. And now - the NATO European Union, and are ready to repulse it, ”the chairman of the“ new people ”echoes Alexey Nechaev to his colleagues.

Modest, in comparison with colleagues, is the performance of the deputy secretary of United Russia, the former children's ombudsman Anna Kuznetsova. She only emphasizes that Russia is “authorized to win”, and due to the fact that “we will become eight million more” (apparently, the inhabitants of the occupied territories), “we will become eight million times stronger”.

“For Russia is a triple“ Hurray ”,” shouts, drowning out Anna Kuznetsova, a man heading a khaki form. Only one guy responds with a bang - and only once.

A boy of about seven sits on the curb near the historical museum and tries to eat all the crumbs from a small pack of chips. Behind him lies a wooden sword. His father in a cap with a red star shoots Julia Chicherin on video, who sings from the stage about the liberation of Donbass.

“Take the border under control, another without you, without visas,” the singer suggests.

- Hooray! - shouts the boy’s father in response to the “We are Russians, victory will be behind us!”

“I have a very positive attitude to the referendum, it was necessary earlier, back in 2014,” the man says in the pilot to the Medusa correspondent. He came to the rally “from patriotic feelings”. - We have some relatives, four, already there [in the war]. Two with injuries were, one had already managed to return to duty. They have been serving on a contract for a long time and periodically extend it. I, too, if I get the agenda, I’ll go. ”

- I also want to war! - Suddenly interrupts the conversation his son, smiling broadly.

“Well, they won’t take you yet,” the father says comfortingly.

- Well, why?! The cook there, help! - The boy does not let up.

- [Elder] son ​​also leaves [in the army]. I would like to have my own, for contractors, but so far he chooses between the urgent service and the signing [of the contract].

The man says that he recently quit his job, but has not yet found a new one - he planned to first “deal with the accumulated affairs” and finish the house in the Kursk region. “There are many children. But now they will probably call me. And I’ll go, ”the interlocutor is explained without sadness.

Near the flower beds in the square there is a couple - a fair -haired girl and a guy with a flag in his hands and drawn, already slightly lubricated with a tricolor on the cheeks.

- We are from the Yaroslavl Medical University, there are many of us. About 25 people arrived, ”the girl says. Her group specially came to Moscow to participate in the rally, but, as the student of the Medusa correspondent, “only volunteers and only at will, assured.”

“Well, we support the referendum,” the young man intervenes in the conversation.

- And the mobilization?

The couple simultaneously gives opposite answers.

- I am against mobilization. I don’t know ... ”the girl says uncertainly.

“If necessary, let's go,” her companion proudly says.

Meanwhile, not only Russian artists supporting the war, but also fighters and artists from self -proclaimed LPR and the DPR are on stage. For example, a fighter from the Sparta battalion joyfully tells the public that this unit for eight years was 40% consisted of volunteers from Russia.

“Honored Artist of the LPR” Sergey Chuikov sings “We will not stand at the price” for the verses of Bulat Okudzhava from the film “Belarusian Station”. The crowd revives: on the screen erected at the stage, the faces of crying spectators began to be broadcast.

Far from the front rows, they also cry. A woman with a cigarette and in a scarlet bow, with gray hair, pronounces “one on all” and closes her watery eyes. Her friend in a pink windbreaker sings the whole text, looking into the distance.

Meanwhile, teenagers sitting on flower beds are discussing the latest news.

“Now [approved] the bill is that you yourself must appear without a summons. Read, ***** [damn], ”is trying to interpret the amendments to the law adopted on the eve of mobilization, a guy in a terry sweatshirt trembling from the cold to friends.

Nearby, his comrade coughs loudly. “Now I would sit, he was treated,” he says with regret, continuing to cough.

A girl with her hair taken in a high tail looks significantly more passionate against their background.

“I support our guys. I work as a nurse in a military hospital [in Moscow], and work directly with them. I also treat mobilization positively - it should be so. And if they call, I’ll be happy to go, ”she says.

But the feelings of the nurse are not shared by all viewers. An hour after the official beginning, people began to disperse, having lost interest in the action unfolding on the stage.

“I'm so fraught with,” the young girl shares with her friend near the Lubyanka metro station.

- From the organization?

- From all. And ***** [Why on earth] was it all?

Maria Koroleva , Moscow