This is the hilarious moment a prankster convinced gullible Russian teachers to wear tinfoil hats dubbed ‘Helmets of the Fatherland’.
The teachers, from multiple schools in Voronezh, were made to wear the shiny hats by the political prankster in an attempt to demonstrate how brainwashed they had been by Kremlin propaganda.
They had been told by activist trickster Vladislav ‘Vladik’ Bokhan that the tin head-coverings would protect them and their students from radiation by NATO satellites.
Bokhan claims that Russians are so deeply conditioned to obey tyrant President Vladimir Putin, that they would follow any official instruction, no matter how ridiculous.
In footage of the bizarre moment, one teacher can be heard saying: ‘Making tinfoil hats is not only an interesting and creative activity, but also an important patriotic act, symbolising the readiness to defend our homeland from external [Western] threats.
Gullible Russian teachers were pranked into wearing tin foil hats to protect their minds from ‘the transmission of Western ideas’
Some teachers claimed that after putting on the hat they felt a ‘purification of thoughts,’ a ‘boost in spirits,’ a ‘surge of patriotism’ and a ‘need to help the [war]’
Aluminum head coverings are usually associated with conspiracy theories, aliens, and paranoid delusions
‘Let our hats become a symbol of unity and resilience in the face of [foreign] challenges.’
Teachers were told beforehand that they were taking part in a ‘large-scale patriotic event’ that required them to make tinfoil hats.
Aluminum head coverings are usually associated with conspiracy theories, aliens, and paranoid delusions.
But no doubts seemed to cross the minds of the teachers who jumped at the task and happily constructed their hats in order to protect their minds from ‘the transmission of Western ideas’.
After placing the hats on their heads, some teachers claimed they felt a ‘purification of thoughts,’ a ‘boost in spirits,’ a ‘surge of patriotism’ and a ‘need to help the [war]’.
Also seen in the footage, another teacher said: ‘Let the helmet, which you will make with your own hands, become a means of defence against external enemies of our beautiful country.’
Explaining the prank, Bokhan – a former history teacher now living in exile – said: ‘During my career, I conducted a series of powerful actions in Russian schools.
‘I thought I had reached the peak of absurdity – until the day I made a reality a meme about tinfoil hats.’
Bokhan fooled the teachers into believing that ‘malicious NATO members plan to irradiate the Russian people physically and biologically’.
Prankster Vladislav Bokhan said he was ‘delighted’ and ‘shocked’ that the prank worked
Teachers were told beforehand that they were taking part in a ‘large-scale patriotic event’ that required them to make tinfoil hats
Several teachers jumped at the task and happily constructed their hats
Bokhan fooled the teachers into believing that ‘malicious NATO members plan to irradiate the Russian people physically and biologically’
He urged them to ‘learn to resist this with primitive protective means, like a foil hat’.
‘I still can’t believe it happened. I am both delighted and shocked,’ he said.
‘Schools have turned into institutions of brainwashing and suppression, [and] I made the system work against itself.
‘On behalf of officials, I compelled these educators to perform absurd tasks, elevating state propaganda to the level of the absurd.’
He added: ‘Russia has positioned itself as a ‘denazifying country’.
‘To me, however, Russia is an empire suppressing its neighbouring peoples.
‘When it disputes the right of nations to self-determination and countries to exist, it resembles Nazi ideology more than anything else.’
Following the hilarious prank, an education ministry official said: ‘The teachers once again demonstrated their patriotic spirit, high efficiency and creative approach to any task- the ‘helmets’ made of foil look very convincing.
‘On the other hand, of course, it was disappointing that they could not distinguish a genuine [political] party initiative from an inappropriate joke’.
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