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The programme aims to train highly qualified and competent management professionals from among the participants and veterans of the special military operation for their further assignment to positions in state and municipal administrations.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Hello, friends,

We are having a holiday today, Russia Day, and I would like to congratulate you on it. Happy holiday!

On this day we usually hold events that are related to conferring the title of the Hero of Labour and presenting National Awards in various categories – in arts, education, modern technology and science.

After the ceremony I have just had a separate meeting with the famous author and columnist, public figure Alexander Prokhanov. He is a reasonable, thinking person with a philosophical mindset and he told me very interesting things that I would like to share with you. He said, ‘Do you know what today’s main idea for Russia is?’ I replied, ‘I wonder.’ He said’ ‘Immortality.’ And it may be related not only to today but to Russia in general – the immortality of the Russian people and Russia, the multi-ethnic nation of Russia and our millennium-long history.

From time to time the country goes through hard ordeals, and its immortality manifests itself in our country’s victories. In this regard, I would like to note that the road to these victories is blazed by people like you and your comrades in arms, who are right now performing their duty to the Motherland along the line of contact, on the frontline, as you are aware better than anyone else.

When we were launching this programme, I was eager to see it create the conditions for our country’s today and tomorrow to be connected with people like you, and not just in the name of it but in essence. So that it would be your time, that is why we called the programme The Time of Heroes.

I want to stress the following: the point is not so much about the fact that many of you have been formally awarded the Hero of Russia star and not about the fact that those present here or your comrades who are not in this hall today have this star. That is not the point. The point is, and it is my deep belief, that, as I have already said, the people, who made their conscious decision to serve the Motherland and thereby achieve personal success, should gradually occupy certain positions in various areas according to their ambitions, training, desire, and abilities, and use such positions to fulfil their government and personal ambitions in the best sense of the word.

This platform or programme tests 65,000 people in two streams; at least 65,000 applications were filed. And the very fact of passing these preliminary tests is already a success in itself. I want to congratulate you on this; it is a real success. My congratulations.

Even when the first part of this work has not yet finished, the first platform, I think 45 people out of 83 have already been appointed to various positions. However, in this regard I also want to note the following. To be trained and then get some executive positions is not an award, not a privilege. It is yet another opportunity to continue serving the Motherland. Well, for some people, in new systems, in a new place, perhaps completely unrelated to their previous experience or occupation, but it is an opportunity to further fulfil themselves and serve the Motherland.

You know that not only highly-skilled teachers and specialists, but also members of the Government and regional authorities as well as top-notch experts give people training at this platform. And I am pleased to note that the same work is being performed, actually, in many, practically in all Russian regions; in any case, this work is gaining momentum. And I very much hope that it will gain a wide reach. Because only with a certain mass scale – if, of course, one can speak of such a thing at all, but anyway – with a wide reach, is it possible to achieve a serious result in personnel training.

Today I want to hear more from you – both those who have already completed a certain training course and those who are just beginning. What are the results, in your opinion? What was good, what do you think should be enhanced or supplemented? What should the organisers of the Time of Heroes platform focus on in particular?

Well, this is all that I wanted to say in the beginning.

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Vladimir Putin: I would like to conclude our meeting with what I began and what I talked about with writer Alexander Prokhanov.

Indeed, the meaning of today lies in the immortality of the Russian people, all the peoples of our multi-ethnic nation and our state, our Motherland – Russia. And the road to this immortality lies through victories you and your comrades-in-arms are blazing.

Therefore, first of all I wish all of you success, and we will do our best for you to achieve it. And secondly, as we celebrate Russia Day today, let us turn our thought to those who are now at the line of contact, on the frontline. And let us honour them, as is often done by servicepeople, by giving them a triple “Hooray!” so that they can hear us from the Kremlin.

One, two, three.

Triple “Hooray.”

All the best!