Russian National Unity Русское национальное единство | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | RNU (English) РНЕ (Russian) |
| President | Alexander Barkashov |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Dissolved | 2000 |
| Split from | NPF "Pamyat" |
| Headquarters | Moscow,Russia |
| Newspaper | Russian order |
| Membership(2000) | 20,000–25,000[1] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Religion | Russian Orthodoxy |
| International affiliation | World Union of National Socialists |
| Colours | Maroon |
| Slogan | "Russia for Russians" |
| Party flag | |
 | |
| Website | |
| soratnik.com (archived 2016) | |
Russian National Unity (RNU; transcribedRusskoe natsionalnoe edinstvo RNE) orAll-Russian civic patriotic movement "Russian National Unity" (Russian:Общероссийское общественное патриотическое движение «Русское национальное единство»,romanized: Obshcherossiyskoye obshchestvennoye patrioticheskoye dvizheniye "Russkoye natsionalnoye yedinstvo") was an unregisteredneo-Nazi,[2][3][4][5][6]irredentist[7] group based inRussia and formerly operating in states with Russian-speaking populations.[8][9] It was founded in 1990 by the ultra-nationalistAlexander Barkashov.[8] The movement advocated the expulsion of non-Russians and an increased role for traditional Russian institutions such as theRussian Orthodox Church. The organization was unregistered federally in Russia, but nonetheless collaborated on a limited basis with theFederal Security Service.[7] The group was banned inMoscow in 1999[10][11] after which the group gradually split up in smaller groups and their webpage became defunct in 2006.[12][13]
Promoting the notion of "Russia for Russians and compatriots", members of the party (sometimes called Barkashovites) endorse policies including the expulsion of minorities that "have their homeland outside Russia", especiallyJews and migrants from theSouth Caucasus such asAzeri,Georgians andArmenians as wellCentral Asian nationalities such asKazakhs,Uzbeks,Tajiks, and others likeSouth Asians. Their vision of Russia is divided into privileged ethnic Russians, who would be guaranteed majority political representation, and non-Russians who live in Russia and have their national homeland there, including indigenous populations ofRussian Far East,North,Turkic and some other minorities.[14]
New recruits (storonniki, literally "supporters" or "siders") to the organization have traditionally been required to serve as low-level functionaries in the organization, acting as drivers and handing out flyers as well as attending instructional sessions on the group's philosophy and beliefs, many of which are derived from a book written by Barkashov. As members advance, they may attain the rank ofspodvizhniki (literally archaic, high-style for "co-workers" or "co-endeavourers") and are entitled to wear the insignia and participate in paramilitary training. The most dedicated members advance to the ranks of thesoratniki (literally "comrades-in-arms"), who serve as the leadership of the group.[15][16]
Members of some local RNE groups have been convicted of serious racist crimes, such as in the case of the RNE group inTver who vandalized Jewish and Muslim graves, murdered and assaulted individuals belonging to ethnic minorities, and spread racial hatred, among other crimes.[2][17]
Reportedly, RNE talked about killing Jews and Gypsies who reside in Russia. ConcerningAdolf Hitler, Barkashov declared: "I consider [Hitler] a great hero of the German nation and of all white races. He succeeded in inspiring the entire nation to fight against degradation and the washing away of national values."[18] Regardless of the RNE's resemblance to Nazism, founder Barkashov rejected the labels 'fascist' and 'Nazi', however, he admitted to being a national socialist. The group had a membership of around 20,000–25,000 members before its breakup in 2000.[19]
In 1989, Barkashov was the second in command in Russian National-Patriotic FrontPamyat. His conflict withDmitri Vasilyev resulted in Barkashov leading, in his words, "the most disciplined and active members, dissatisfied with empty talk and theatrical stunts, out of Pamyat". In 1990, RNU grew in the face of the economic and social difficulties faced by Russians in the course of thedissolution of the Soviet Union.[20]
The Russian National Unity movement was founded on 16 October 1990 by a splinter group of the National Patriotic Front "Memory" (NPF "Pamyat"). It grew from 1990 to 1991. Members have been reported to wear black and camouflage uniforms. The group also adopted a red and whiteswastika emblem and openly expressed admiration for GermanNational Socialism and public celebrations of the rise of the Nazis, although the organization officially denied any support for Nazi ideology. The group was active not only in Russia, but also inEstonia,Latvia,Lithuania andUkraine. The RNU has attempted to unite nationalist groups by organizing Slavonic and then Russiansobors. They met with various groups to pursue common goals, but saw little progress.[21]
By the middle of 1993, the RNU had become the most prominent Russian nationalist movement, with a wide network of regional divisions. In addition to engaging in political action, the RNU conducted military drills and tactical training. As the1993 Russian constitutional crisis unfolded, the RNU militantly supported the Russian parliament over PresidentBoris Yeltsin. In 1993, it also took part in defending and patrolling the White House, the residence of the Supreme Council of theRussian Federation, against the President's troops. Following Yeltsin's victory, the RNU worked illegally for several months. While underground, the movement continued to publish their newspaperRussian Order.
The same year, the organization was registered as "a club for military and patriotic upbringing" and later was recognized by local officials as "a volunteer people's self-protection unit". To help achieve its goals, the RNU developed a cadre of armed paramilitaries, known as RussianVityazi, who were trained in the use of small arms and explosives.
On 15 October 1995, 304 delegates from 37 regional divisions attended a RNU conference in Moscow.
In 1998, Moscow's mayorYuri Luzhkov, with the support of higher government officials, prohibited the second RNU regional conference from being held in Moscow.[22]
At the peak of its popularity in 1999, RNU was estimated to have 20,000–25,000 active members all over Russia by state officials.[1]
The group was banned inMoscow in 1999[11] and Barkashov lost the control of the group by 2000 after which the group was defunct.[10][13][23]
After the ban on the group, members of RNU were often jailed and the organisation was split into a number of other groups.[24][25] The members of these new groups, namely Alexander Barkashov,Russian Orthodox Army, and others have since have engaged in religious activities and pro-Russian activism inDonbas conflict.[26][27][28][29] They also support theRussian invasion of Ukraine and expressed their readiness to fight against Ukraine.[30]
the RNE was of substantial organizational strength before its breakup in late 2000 and was estimated to have had, on the eve of its fracture, approximately 20,000 to 25,000 members
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Many ethno-nationalist parties, such as the Russian All-National Union, have also proclaimed that it is necessary to unite Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus into a single state. It was a commonplace among Russian far-right figures that Ukrainians, Belorussians and Russians are in fact one nation. This claim was repeated consistently in the programmes of the Russian National Unity movement.
the RNE was of substantial organizational strength before its breakup in the 2000's and was estimated to have had, on the eve of its fracture, approximately 20,000 to 25,000 members
Members of the far-right RNE were regularly jailed.
26 local groups had seceded from the RNE
RNE volunteer troops were closely linked with the Russian Orthodox army
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Russian National Unity underwent an internal coup d'état in 2000. Several regional leaders decided to exclude Alexander Barkashov from his position as leader of the party, splitting up into multiple factions, none of which was able to step in to play a unifying role.... Barkashov, who had legal troubles for "hooliganism" in 2005, created a new party bearing his name in December of the following year but had no real success.
