Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that the future ruling class in Russia should consist of military veterans, rather than "eccentrics" who "expose their buttocks." His comments seemed to be a veiled attack on a party hosted by celebrities in Moscow last month, which provoked a strong public backlash and outrage from many Russian politicians.
In a government meeting broadcast on television, Putin stated that he had met earlier in the day with "students who halted their studies" in order to fight in Ukraine. He added, "These are the people who should form the elite of the country in the future, not those who expose their genitals or show their buttocks."
The Russian president continued, "Well, we also need... eccentrics. They are also allowed to be among us," while emphasizing that the real elite of the country should be formed by these individuals, referring to the veterans.
The Kremlin has reinforced conservative rhetoric since Russian forces invaded Ukraine, portraying the conflict as a battle against the West and its values. Many prominent Russian celebrities attended the "Semi-Nude" party at the Mutabor nightclub in Moscow last month, an event that contrasts sharply with the family-friendly image Moscow is trying to project, prompting conservative politicians to call for investigations.
