Analysts name nationalism growth factors in Southern Russia

Activists of nationalist movements demonstrate complete loyalty to authorities and seek to cooperate with law enforcement bodies, but high-profile scandals, such as the march in Korenovsk, are interfering with these plans. At the same time, the xenophobia growth in the society has to do with some officials' statements and anti-migrant rhetoric, analysts have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that about 60 members of nationalist movements held a march in Korenovsk after a local resident suffered in a brawl involving Kurds. Sources reported that members of the nationalist movements "Russkaya Obschina" (Russian Community) and "Severny Chelovek" (Northern Man) took part in the march.

Over the past 10 years, the "Sova" Research Centre* has not recorded a single demonstration similar to the march in Korenovsk, Vera Alperovich, a Centre*'s expert, has stated. "After all, such a march is an unsanctioned street demonstration, to which our authorities <have a sharp reaction> ... Therefore, a mass outing onto streets after an incident is not typical for Russia at the moment," she has noted, recalling that similar events with a tinge of Russian nationalism began occurring in Russia after the conflict in Kondopoga in 2006, when mass riots broke out. They were triggered by a brawl of local residents with natives from the Caucasus, in which two people perished. Ramzan Kadyrov, then the Chechen Premier, blamed the incident on local authorities – he spoke of "anti-Chechen and anti-Caucasian" sentiments in Karelia.

According to Vera Alperovich, the march in Korenovsk was largely due to the growth of xenophobia in the Russian society.

She has added that the "Russian Community" and "Northern Man" are relatively new organizations. They create squads and want to "maintain law and order" together with the police. Both movements are also extremely loyal to the authorities and help them in everything, including in the special military operation (SMO).

"The '"Russian Community' has middle-aged people, there are participants in Chechen campaigns, in Donbass and in Ukraine there ... And the "Northern Man" consists of young athletes and fans," Dmitry Abrosimov, a political analyst, has added. He believes that public events of a xenophobic nature held in the Rostov Region by the "Russian Community" were unsuccessful.

Sergey Boiko, a political analyst, believes that Russian nationalism is supported "in its most conservative forms" by the state. In his opinion, the increased activeness of the movement in Kuban (Krasnodar Territory) has to do with the region's peculiarities.

"In Kuban, with its complex multi-ethnic structure ... Cossacks play their role in consolidating Russian nationalism. All this leads to the fact that there are constant brawls with Turks, Kurds, Armenians, or someone else there," Mr Boiko has explained.

*On August 17, 2023, the First Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction approved the decision taken earlier in April by the Moscow City Court to liquidate the SOVA Human Rights Centre.