Because of Russia’s history, several different tendencies exist within the extreme right which sometimes partly contradict themselves in their historic and ideological reference points. Only a small segment of the extreme right openly pays homage to National Socialism (Nazism). In fact, large parts of the Russian population reject Nazism because of Hitler’s 1941 attack on the Soviet Union (USSR) that cost the lives of over 20 million Soviet citizens. Nazism is being seen as “German”, “non-Russian” and hostile to Russians. Knowledge of the Holocaust barely exists and the mass rejection of Nazism is mostly based on tradition and nationalism. The Russian nationalist organisations are more important than the nazis. They are supporters of an imperialist phantasy that paints Russia as a new world superpower. Their ideology is also loaded down with racist and antisemitic baggage. The fact that some of these organisations, like the Movement against Illegal Immigration (DPNI) also orient themselves towards issues like immigration is a relative new development.
The DPNI mobilises support with racist and nationalist slogans and its boss Alexander Belov had already been active in Pamyat, an ultra-nationalist organisation formed even before the collapse of the USSR. Founded in 2002, the DPNI pretends to stand up for the interests of the “Russian people”. It does not use the classic antisemitic rhetoric common elsewhere on the Russian right. Instead, it concentrates on blaming “illegal immigrants” for social problems and injustices. In the DPNI’s view, it is mainly people from the former Soviet Republics and with darker skin who qualify as “illegal immigrants”. In some situations, the DPNI has escalated local conflicts by playing the ethnicity or race card and mobilising its supporters via the internet. In this way, its uses pogrom-like situations for its own advantage and to act as the “voice of the people”. There is wide support for DPNI-style policies in Russia: 55% of Russians agreed, in one poll, with the demand “Russia for Russians!” The DPNI, in turn, presents itself as a broad movement where right-wingers from all backgrounds can find a political home.
Recently, they have also organised paramilitary groups, which enhances their attraction to more militant supporters. The DPNI is also among a leading organiser of the so-called “Russian March” which takes place every year on the newly-created Day of National Unity, pulls together various right-wing extremist factions and grabs a lot of media publicity.
The state, especially, under Putin, has tried to integrate the nationalists through the political party Rodina (Motherland) which has nationalist policies and has attracted right-wing voter potential without being openly racist or antisemitic. Now, Rodina has
joined together with two other parties to form A Just Russia. This new outfit also supports Putin and his increasingly authoritarian policies.
