Russian National Unity

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Members of Russian National Unity group in a street parade
Members of Russian National Unity group in a street parade

Russian National Unity (RNU) or All-Russian civic patriotic movement "Russkoye Natsionalnoye Edinstvo" (Russian: Всероссийское общественное патриотическое движение "Русское Национальное Единство"), better translated as "Russian Ethnic Unity" as "natsionalnost" means "ethnicity" in Russian, is an outlawed far-right, ultra-nationalist political party and paramilitary organization based in Russia and operating in states with Russian-speaking populations. It was founded by ultra-nationalist Alexander Barkashov, who is now officially banned from Russia. During its active years the movement openly advocated the expulsion of non-Russians and an increased role for traditional Russian institutions such as the Russian Orthodox Church.

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[edit] Ideology and tactics

Promoting the notion of "Russia for the Russians and compatriots", members of the party (sometimes called "Barkashovites") endorse policies including the expulsion of minorities that "have their homeland outside Russia", especially Jews and migrants from the Caucasus, such as Azeri, Georgians and Armenians, as well as other countries. Their vision of Russia is divided into privileged ethnic Russians and "compatriots" - non-Russians that live in Russia and have their national homeland there, including indigenous populations of Far East, North, Turkic, and some other minorities. While they consider these "compatriots" to be entitled to live in Russia, the RNU nonetheless condemns any inter-ethnic and inter-racial marriages, claiming that "they create psychological troubles of self-identification for children from such marriages".

According to the Saint Petersburg Times, new recruits (storonniki, literally: "supporters", "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 of spodvizhniki (literally: archaic, high-style for "co-workers"; "co-endeavourers") and are entitled to wear the insignia and participate in paramilitary training. The most dedicated members advance to the ranks of the soratniki (literally: "comrades-in-arms"), who serve as the leadership of the group.

The organisation also worked with businesses, state officials, military and secret services. Supporting businessmen were awarded certificates of merit and other honours. The organization avoids direct violence with the law at the present stage of the struggle. Some officials have allowed RNU to take part in street patrols and other collaborations with the police; and military training facilities have been made available. Some sympathetic state and industrial officials lent RNU places for meetings, gave help to print literature, make uniforms, and copy CDs and video cassettes and other materials. Several arts of war classes with RNU instructors associated with state schools were opened.

[edit] History

RNU street parade, May 2003, Belgorod, Russia
RNU street parade, May 2003, Belgorod, Russia

In 1989, Barkashov was the second in command in Russian National-Patriotic Front Pamyat. His conflict with Dmitry 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 the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The Russian National Unity movement was founded on 16 October 1990 by 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 adopted a red and white swastika emblem and openly expressed of admiration for German national 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 in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. The RNU has attempted to unite nationalist groups by organizing Slavonic and then Russian sobors. They met with various groups to pursue common goals but saw little progress.

By the middle of 1993, Russian National Unity 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 the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis unfolded, the RNU militantly supported the Russian parliament over the president, Boris Yeltsin. In 1993 it took part in defending and patrolling the "White house" - the residence of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation during the Russian constitutional crisis of 1993 against the President's troops. Following Yeltsin's victory, RNU worked illegally for several months. While underground, the movement continued to publish their newspaper "Russian 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 "Russian Knights", who train in the use of small arms and explosives. Activists engaged in physical assaults and claimed responsibility for a May 13, 1998 bomb explosion outside a Moscow synagogue that injured three.

On 15 October 1995, 304 delegates from 37 regional divisions attended a RNU conference in Moscow. In 1999, Moscow’s mayor, Yuri Luzhkov, with the support of higher government officials, prohibited the second RNU regional conference from being held in Moscow. However, the RNU continued to organize.

In 1999, the Moscow headquarters of the group were closed and the organization was banned there. Barkashov was apparently expelled from Russia in September 2000. The RNU contested the 2001 municipal elections in Latvia, but failed to win any seats. RNU leaders have been convicted for inciting hatred towards Jews and other minority groups. During the second Chechen war, the RNU supported Russian officers accused of crimes in Chechnya.

[edit] Split with Barkashov

At the peak of its popularity in 1999, RNU was estimated to have 100,000 active members all over Russia by state officials.[1] However, by 2000 most regional members became disappointed with Barkashov. Among other reasons were alcoholism, "Führerism", moral degradation, failing to organize the second all-Russian congress of the organization in Izmailovo hotel in Moscow (banned by Moscow officials) and apologies to "Blacks, Jews and Caucasians", which he was forced to make in front of a camera by camouflaged people allegedly belonging to Korzhakov's President security service.[citation needed] This scared off many members of RNU, and the organization started to come apart. In September 2000 Barkashov was expelled from the organization. But the damage done by the split is still in effect. He created his own RNU-like organization "Barkasov's Guards", but still some members continue to call themselves "RNU members". While the RNU still functions in many areas of Russia it is not as strong as before. The organization is now ruled by the Council of Regional Divisions.

[edit] References

  1. ^ MIPT Terrorism knowledge base

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

  • Simonsen, Sven Gunnar (December 1996). "Aleksandr Barkashov and Russian National Unity: Blackshirt friends of the nation". Nationalities Papers 24 (4): 625–639. 

[edit] External links