Russian National Unity
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Russian National Unity (Всероссийское общественное патриотическое движение "Русское Национальное Единство" or All-Russian civic patriotic movement "Russkoye Natsionalnoye Edinstvo"), better translated as "Russian Ethnic Unity" is a far-right, ultra-nationalist political party and paramilitary organization based in Russia and operating in states with Russian-speaking populations. It openly advocates 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
Founded by the Russian right-winger Aleksandr Barkashov in 1990, RNU grew in the face of the economic and social difficulties faced by Russians after the fall of the Soviet state.
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 and other countries. All population 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 other minorities. Although "Compatriots" are considered a respectable part of the Russian population, RNU nonetheless condemns any inter-ethnic and inter-racial marriages "because they create psychological troubles of self-identification for children from such marriages".
[edit] Political activities
First activities of the organization can be traced back to 1991 or even earlier. Members have been reported to wear black and camouflage uniforms; the group adopted a red and white swastika emblem and there have been open expressions of admiration for German national socialism and public celebrations of the rise of the Nazis, although the organization officially denies any support of Nazi ideology. The group is active not only in Russia, but also in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.
In 1993 it took part in defending and patrolling the "White house" - the residence of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR during the Russian constitutional crisis of 1993 against the President's troops.
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". In pursuing its goals, the RNU has developed a cadre of armed paramilitaries, known as "Russian Knights", who train in the use of small arms and explosives. Activists have engaged in physical assaults and claimed responsibility for a May 13, 1998 bomb explosion outside a Moscow synagogue that injured three.
According to the Saint Petersburg Times, new recruits (storonniki, literally: "supporters") 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.
More recently the RNU has encountered difficulties. 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.
[edit] Split with Barkashov
At the peak of its popularity in 1999, RNU allegedly had some 20 000 active members all over Russia [citation needed]. By 2000 most regional members became disappointed with Barkashov. Among other reasons were alcoholism, "fuehrerism", 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 "Nigers, Jews and Caucasians", which he was forced to make in front of a camera by coumouflaged people allegedly belonging to Korzhakov's President security service. It scared off many mambers 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". The core of RNU still functions today in many regions, towns and cities in Russia, however it is not as strong. Now the organization is ruled by the Council of Regional Divisions. The changes in ideology after the split seem to make the organization more oriented towards Russian Orthodoxy.
