The key facts

  • Vitaly Milonov considers free giveaways humiliating and proposes banning them
  • The reason was the stampede in Yekaterinburg over coins marking the 350th anniversary of Georg Wilhelm de Gennin
  • Milonov clarified that giving food to those in need should not be condemned

Deputy proposed banning free giveaways

State Duma deputy Vitaly Milonov told Gazeta.Ru that the distribution of free gifts humiliates people and makes them display their worst qualities due to the craving for a 'freebie'. In his opinion, such practices should be banned in principle. At the same time, he emphasized that those who seek to obtain food should not be condemned: he recalled how he himself distributed food to Kurdish refugees in Belarus when they were not being allowed into Poland.

Historical examples and the reason for the statement

Milonov noted that the phenomenon is not limited to the Soviet context: he referred to the distribution of gifts on Khodynka Field during the coronation of the last Russian emperor and to incidents in Europe and other countries. The reason for his comments was the stampede in the center of Yekaterinburg, where local residents tried to get free coins commemorating the 350th anniversary of Georg Wilhelm de Gennin. Also, earlier in London, an African culture festival was canceled due to a stampede at the entrance.