This year the main target of anti-tobacco activists was smoking teenagers, the number of which has rocketed in the recent years. The organizers thought that inviting children to speak about the dangers of smoking to their peers is the best way to put the message across.

“These kids tell everyone that it's bad for you, it's unhealthy. We tell everyone they must lead healthy lives, be strong, courageous and beautiful like us. It's much more effective when kids tell other kids to stop smoking than grown ups lecturing them,” the organizer of Protest Action, Irina Silonyan from the Moscow City Administration, told RT.

Alongside with the lollypop campaign, the city authorities have launched a set of panel discussions and a hotline for anyone who wishes to quit smoking. Those who call are offered advice and counseling for free.

In the last 15 years alone, the number of smokers in Russia has doubled; the main increase was noticed among women and teenagers. Sociologists say the main reason for that are successful advertising campaigns by foreign tobacco companies that have flooded the Russian market after the collapse of Soviet Union.

“In Russia, tobacco is very accessible. We have the cheapest cigarettes in the world and they are sold everywhere – at bus stops, metro stops, anywhere you go. And the tolerance towards smokers is very high. Everything is made to suit their needs, in cafes, restaurants – you can smoke everywhere in Russia,” Duma Deputy Nikolay Gerasimenko told RT.

In European countries, the number of smokers has been on the decrease as both the public and authorities have become aware of the dangers that smoking brings. As a result, smoking in public places was banned a few years ago, and a number of other measures have been introduced, such as high taxes and limitations on advertising.

For their part, Russian deputies are trying to implement a range of anti-tobacco initiatives. However, their legislative attempts have so far been unsuccessful.

“First of all we need more effective pricing measures – prices for cigarettes must rise. Secondly, and it's very important, when a person makes the decision to start smoking, it's their choice. But everyone has the right to fresh air. Foreigners are coming to Russia less now because it's impossible to have a meal without being bothered by smoke! We must create special smoking rooms in public places. Finally we must ban cigarette sales in kiosks,” Gerasimenko said.