First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia Alexander Gorovoy highlighted the systemic role of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the upbringing of the younger generation

---

On 20 December, the awards ceremony for the laureates of the All-Russian Youth Achievements Award "Time of the Young" was held at the National Centre RUSSIA. The awards in the "Guardians of Childhood" category were presented by the First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Alexander Gorovoy.

In his welcoming address, Alexander Gorovoy emphasised the systemic role of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the upbringing of the younger generation and in supporting young people. He noted the importance of joint efforts with those who shape youth policy. Tens of thousands of officers of the internal affairs bodies actively assist young people who have made mistakes and, on a daily basis, work to support the upbringing of the younger generation of Russia.

Within the category, the most outstanding young officers were selected — those who bring unique approaches and ideas to their everyday work. The Deputy Minister also announced that the best practices demonstrated by the award-winning specialists would be scaled nationwide.

More than 40 territorial divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia took part in the qualifying stage of the "Guardians of Childhood" category, represented by officers from juvenile affairs units. First place was awarded to a juvenile affairs inspector from the Khabarovsk region, Police Captain Irina Gorobets; second place went to a juvenile affairs inspector from the Vladimir region, Police Captain Svetlana Kochegarova; and third place was awarded to a senior juvenile affairs inspector from the Republic of Karelia, Senior Police Lieutenant Anastasia Leonova. The First Deputy Minister presented the police officers with commemorative statuettes, winners’ diplomas, and wristwatches bearing the symbols of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

In total, winners were honoured at the National Centre RUSSIA across 19 categories, including "Youth Event of the Year", "Family — Loved Ones", "Place of the Young", "Friend of Russia", and "Friend of the Young". Among the distinguished guests who presented awards were Director General of the Russian society Znanie Maxim Dreval; Director General of the presidential platform "Russia — Land of Opportunity" Andrei Betin; Chairman of the Board of the Movement of the First and Hero of the Russian Federation Artur Orlov; Director of the Department of Information and Press and official spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Maria Zakharova; Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and First Deputy Head of the "New People" faction Vladislav Davankov, and others.

The All-Russian Youth Achievements Award "Time of the Young" was held for the first time in 2021. The nationwide award was established to recognise outstanding contributions by industry professionals, leaders of youth public associations, business representatives, and individual figures who have made a significant contribution to the development of youth policy in Russia. In 2022, a special category, "Youth Capital of Russia", was added to the award.

Since 2025, a new category — "Guardians of Childhood" — has been introduced. It is awarded to juvenile affairs officers under the age of 35 who have at least five years of service and have achieved high results in their operational and professional activities.

The organiser of the "Time of the Young" award is Rosmolodezh, with VK serving as its strategic partner.