PERSPECTIVE DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADRIFT FROM POLITICS Youth in Russia before the War Félix Krawatzek July 2022 Youth has been a key target of Russian politics for nearly two decades. Significant resources are mobilised to shape what young people think politically and their social values. In late 2021, young Russians clearly expressed how disil­lusioned they are with their coun­try’s politics, the little value they attach to protests and how isolated they think Russia is internationally. Since February 2022, young people are to be convinced that the»special military oper­ation« is aimed at Russia’s pro­tection and Ukraine’s denazifi­cation. However, young Rus­­sians ARE among those who have left the country in dis­proportionately high numbers since the outbreak of the full­scale war against Ukraine in February 2022.