Aleksandr Kuzmich Ivanov-Sukharevsky (Russian:Александр Кузьмич Иванов-Сухаревский; born 26 July 1950) is afar-right politician inRussia. He was the leader of thePeoples National Party (NNP).
Ivanov-Sukharevsky was born inRostov-on-Don,Russian SFSR, the son of aRed Army officer from theByelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic and a pharmacist from theUkrainian Soviet Socialist Republic whose family background came from a leading clan ofDon Cossacks, with one of her ancestors lending his name to theSukharev Tower.[1]: 222 He spent much of his childhood inEast Germany, where his father was serving, before returning to Rostov, where in 1967 he entered a local military college.[1]: 222
However he lost interest in a military career, enrolling inRostov State University in 1970 to study economics. This also failed to excite his interest and in 1974 he entered theAll-Union State Institute of Cinematography, qualifying as a film director in 1979.[1]: 222
Ivanov-Sukharevsky first came to notice in theSoviet Union as director of the film's:Korabl (1988), a drama starringVladimir Zamansky,[2]Tayna zemli (1985), a film starringYelena Safonova,Nikolai Prokopovich,Vladimir Simonov.[3] Some of his work was however suppressed by the Soviet vetting commission, notably a 1987 documentaryShip, which Ivanov-Sukharevsky claimed was banned by a "gang ofYids" under the direction ofAlla Gerber because it dealt withanti-Semitic themes.[1]: 222–223
Ivanov-Sukharevsky was admitted as a captain in the right-wing militia group the Moscow Cossack Guards in 1992 although he claims to have had no involvement with any political parties until establishing his own in 1994. This is disputed by Stephen Shenfield however, who states that Ivanov-Sukharevsky was a member of such groups asRussian National Unity, the Russian National Assembly and the All-Russian National Right-Wing Centre.[1]: 223 Around this time he also readAdolf Hitler'sMein Kampf andBenito Mussolini'sThe Doctrine of Fascism and was heavily influenced by both works, especially the latter. However, despite sharing much of the ideology Ivanov-Sukharevsky would not accept the label offascism, considering the term to be too non-Russian in nature.[1]: 223
He established the NNP in 1994, and has sought to make the party into a leading voice ofwhite nationalism in Russia. He has built up a reputation as a leader of theracist skinhead movement in the country.[4] A supporter of like-minded groups acrossEurope, Ivanov-Sukharevsky has called for a closer European unity with Russia at the head of an eventual European super-state.[5] His decision to enter politics was not without controversy and in 1995 he was subjected to a series of physical attacks and burglaries of his home by unknown assailants. Although the culprits were never identified Ivanov-Sukharevsky pointed the finger at rival right-extremist leaderAlexander Barkashov. Barkashov'sRussian National Unity movement had consistently rejected offers to co-operate with the NNP, largely because Barkashov viewed Ivanov-Sukharevsky as an unnecessary rival for the leadership of the ultra-nationalists.[1]: 230
Ivanov-Sukharevsky has been jailed on more than one occasion, notably in February 1999 when he was remanded for inciting hatred. During this period he shared a cell withSemyon Tokmakov, the leader of the Russian skinhead gangRussian Goal, and he began to recruit the skinheads to his cause.[6] The two published a joint letter fromButyrka prison in the PNP paperYa-Russky, and as a result the paper became a popular seller among racist skinheads. He was found guilty in April 2002, although he was almost immediately released under an amnesty.[4]
Ivanov-Sukharevsky was largely supportive ofVladimir Putin when he was first elected asPresident of Russia, describing him as an 'indispensable and extremely important politician' and the 'hyper-link betweenMarxism and Russism', although adding that 'his ideology reflects the past stage of history'.[7] Although he had not specifically supported Putin's candidature in the election, he had not declared support for any candidate for the Presidency.
Sukharevsky follows an ideology that he calls Russism (or Ruscism), which emphasises the centrality ofrace above all divisions. Russism is attractive toracists andethnic nationalists who adhere toPaganism rather than theRussian Orthodox Church, which is generally afforded a central role on the Russian extreme right.[citation needed] Russism seeks to build a link from pre-revolutionary orthodoxmonarchism toNazism, and identifies the two great heroes of the Twentieth century asNicholas II of Russia andAdolf Hitler, arguing that Hitler was revenge on theBolsheviks for therevolution.[4]
According to his personal ideology theRussy consists of eight branches i.e. the "Great Russians", theBelarusians, theUkrainians (the three groups from which he has descent), theRuthenians ofCarpathia, the "New Russians", theSiberians, theCossacks and thePomors.[1]: 222
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