(photos by ITAR-TASS)
Political Camp
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Russia -- Nashi camp. Lake Seliger inputted 20Jul2007 (picture from 2006 camp) - Every year for the past three years, thousands of Russian young people have headed to Tver Oblast to attend a summer camp sponsored by the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi (Our Own).
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Political Camp - Preparations for Russia's upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections are already evident at this year's camp. Here a Nashi member bikes pasts a poster mocking opposition leaders Mikhail Kasyanov (left) and Garry Kasparov.
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Political Camp - The number of youths participating in the Nashi camp has more than tripled in size since 2005, making it the biggest and fastest-growing of the country's political youth retreats.
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Political Camp - There is much work to be done, but there is also time for play.
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Political Camp - Aside from learning new political tactics, such as organizing demonstrations, camp participants learn valuable skills such as first aid.
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Political Camp - Recreational activities such as boating and swimming are also mastered at the camp.
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Political Camp - The image of President Vladimir Putin is evident everywhere at the camp.
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Political Camp - Guest speakers over the years have included Kremlin spin doctor Gleb Pavlovsky and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, shown here speaking to campers in 2006, when he was prime minister of the republic.
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Political Camp - To Nashi members, the preferred leader for Russia is Putin, shown here speaking to camp participants in 2006. Whoever succeeds him as president is expected to pick up where he left off.