{"id":171662,"date":"2011-03-11T08:37:52","date_gmt":"2011-03-11T08:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.moldova.org\/2011\/03\/11\/qaddafis-russian-cheerleaders-218124-eng\/"},"modified":"2011-03-11T08:37:52","modified_gmt":"2011-03-11T08:37:52","slug":"qaddafis-russian-cheerleaders-218124-eng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moldova.org\/en\/qaddafis-russian-cheerleaders-218124-eng\/","title":{"rendered":"Qaddafi\u2019s Russian Cheerleaders"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Since its creation in 2005 for the purpose of preventing an “orange revolution” in Russia, Nashi (translation: “Ours”), a Kremlin-sponsored youth movement popularly dubbed “Putinjugend,” has served its political masters loyally and without too much scrupulousness. Those who crossed the regime’s path, be they domestic opponents or foreign diplomats, could count on Nashi’s attention. In at least two cases of assault on opposition leader Boris Nemtsov — in November 2007 and in March 2009 — the attackers were identified as current or former Nashi operatives (in the latter case, during the Sochi mayoral campaign, Mr. Nemtsov’s eyes were doused with ammonia). The opposition leader was not the only target. After columnist Alexander Podrabinek criticized the decision to rename the Anti-Soviet café in Moscow at the demand of a former senior Communist Party official, his family was harassed by Nashi members who set up pickets outside their home; he himself was forced into hiding after receiving threats.<\/p>\n

Other examples of the movement’s “activism” include the public trampling of portraits of opposition figures and an installation titled “You are not welcome here” featuring Russian anti-Kremlin politicians and foreign leaders dressed in Nazi uniforms. The latter was featured at the 2010 Nashi annual summer camp at Lake Seliger, attended in person by President Dmitri Medvedev. In 2006 and 2007, Nashi targeted the ambassadors from Britain and Estonia — respectively, over the support for Russian civil society, and for the relocation of a Soviet-era war memorial in Tallinn. Tony Brenton and Marina Kaljurand were repeatedly heckled and insulted. Nashi’s founder, Vasily Yakemenko (currently a minister in Vladimir Putin’s government), called for “dismantling” the Estonian Embassy, which came under siege by Nashi members. Needless to say, these actions violated Russia’s obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires that a host state treat any foreign diplomat “with due respect” and “take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity.” The European Union responded by placing Mr. Yakemenko on its visa blacklist, where he remains to this day.<\/p>\n

Like his younger brother Vasily, Boris Yakemenko, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation and one of Nashi’s chief ideologists, is not one to mince words. He has linked the opposition to terrorist attacks in the Moscow metro, openly praised the assault on Mr. Nemtsov, and supported calls for turning Mr. Podrabinek’s life into “a nightmare.” So his recent comment should not have come as a surprise. In an article titled “The Correct Way” — published on Nashi’s official website — Boris Yakemenko praised Libya’s rogue leader Muammar el-Qaddafi for the use of aerial bombardments against his own citizens. “Colonel M. Qaddafi has shown the whole world how to deal with provocateurs,” the Nashi ideologist admiringly wrote. “He began to destroy them. With missiles and everything he has. And this is the most correct way to end the use of American ‘revolutionary’ technologies.” “We are all witnessing another US attempt to take control of a Middle Eastern country,” he continued, “but, it appears, it will be a failure. Way to go, Colonel Qaddafi. If only everyone behaved like this.”<\/p>\n

Despite its track record, Nashi continues to enjoy open patronage from the highest levels of Russia’s government. Its summer camps on Lake Seliger were visited by President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin. Its congresses were attended by Kremlin deputy chief of staff Vladislav Surkov, who assured Nashi members that “we are with you” and that “your work is valued.” Vasily Yakemenko has referred to Mr. Surkov as “our spiritual teacher, one of the ideologists of the movement.” On December 11, 2010, at a meeting with Nashi representatives, Vladislav Surkov told them: “Prepare for elections, train … your muscles. You can always count on our support.” It is worth noting that any state-sponsored harassment during election campaigns constitutes a direct violation of international law. Paragraph (7.7) of the OSCE Copenhagen Document states that “political campaigning [must be] conducted in a fair and free atmosphere in which neither administrative action, violence nor intimidation bars the parties and the candidates from freely presenting their views and qualifications.”<\/p>\n

Boris Yakemenko, less constrained in his rhetoric than senior officials, may be saying what others are thinking. The Kremlin’s attitude toward the pro-democracy opposition is well known. In the event of major anti-regime protests, Russian leaders may turn to methods not dissimilar to those used by the Libyan colonel. The likelihood of such protests, as Russia nears what will almost certainly be another round of “stolen” elections in December 2011 and March 2012, seems much greater than even a few months ago: a poll by the Public Opinion Foundation showed that an unprecedented 49 percent of Russians are ready to take part in protest rallies. Russia’s OSCE partners, including the United States, should make it abundantly clear to Kremlin leadership — now — that any use of force against peaceful protesters is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>Since its creation in 2005 for the purpose of preventing an \u201corange revolution\u201d in Russia, Nashi (translation: \u201cOurs\u201d), a Kremlin-sponsored youth movement popularly dubbed \u201cPutinjugend,\u201d has served its political masters loyally and without too much scrupulousness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":171661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-171662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"content_social_share":"Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Since its creation in 2005 for the purpose of preventing an “orange revolution” in Russia, Nashi (translation: “Ours”), a Kremlin-sponsored youth movement popularly dubbed “Putinjugend,” has served its political masters loyally and without too much scrupulousness. Those who crossed the regime’s path, be they domestic opponents or foreign diplomats, could count on Nashi’s attention. In at least two cases of assault on opposition leader Boris Nemtsov — in November 2007 and in March 2009 — the attackers were identified as current or former Nashi operatives (in the latter case, during the Sochi mayoral campaign, Mr. Nemtsov’s eyes were doused with ammonia). The opposition leader was not the only target. After columnist Alexander Podrabinek criticized the decision to rename the Anti-Soviet café in Moscow at the demand of a former senior Communist Party official, his family was harassed by Nashi members who set up pickets outside their home; he himself was forced into hiding after receiving threats.<\/p>\n

Other examples of the movement’s “activism” include the public trampling of portraits of opposition figures and an installation titled “You are not welcome here” featuring Russian anti-Kremlin politicians and foreign leaders dressed in Nazi uniforms. The latter was featured at the 2010 Nashi annual summer camp at Lake Seliger, attended in person by President Dmitri Medvedev. In 2006 and 2007, Nashi targeted the ambassadors from Britain and Estonia — respectively, over the support for Russian civil society, and for the relocation of a Soviet-era war memorial in Tallinn. Tony Brenton and Marina Kaljurand were repeatedly heckled and insulted. Nashi’s founder, Vasily Yakemenko (currently a minister in Vladimir Putin’s government), called for “dismantling” the Estonian Embassy, which came under siege by Nashi members. Needless to say, these actions violated Russia’s obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires that a host state treat any foreign diplomat “with due respect” and “take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity.” The European Union responded by placing Mr. Yakemenko on its visa blacklist, where he remains to this day.<\/p>\n

Like his younger brother Vasily, Boris Yakemenko, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation and one of Nashi’s chief ideologists, is not one to mince words. He has linked the opposition to terrorist attacks in the Moscow metro, openly praised the assault on Mr. Nemtsov, and supported calls for turning Mr. Podrabinek’s life into “a nightmare.” So his recent comment should not have come as a surprise. In an article titled “The Correct Way” — published on Nashi’s official website — Boris Yakemenko praised Libya’s rogue leader Muammar el-Qaddafi for the use of aerial bombardments against his own citizens. “Colonel M. Qaddafi has shown the whole world how to deal with provocateurs,” the Nashi ideologist admiringly wrote. “He began to destroy them. With missiles and everything he has. And this is the most correct way to end the use of American ‘revolutionary’ technologies.” “We are all witnessing another US attempt to take control of a Middle Eastern country,” he continued, “but, it appears, it will be a failure. Way to go, Colonel Qaddafi. If only everyone behaved like this.”<\/p>\n

Despite its track record, Nashi continues to enjoy open patronage from the highest levels of Russia’s government. Its summer camps on Lake Seliger were visited by President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin. Its congresses were attended by Kremlin deputy chief of staff Vladislav Surkov, who assured Nashi members that “we are with you” and that “your work is valued.” Vasily Yakemenko has referred to Mr. Surkov as “our spiritual teacher, one of the ideologists of the movement.” On December 11, 2010, at a meeting with Nashi representatives, Vladislav Surkov told them: “Prepare for elections, train … your muscles. You can always count on our support.” It is worth noting that any state-sponsored harassment during election campaigns constitutes a direct violation of international law. Paragraph (7.7) of the OSCE Copenhagen Document states that “political campaigning [must be] conducted in a fair and free atmosphere in which neither administrative action, violence nor intimidation bars the parties and the candidates from freely presenting their views and qualifications.”<\/p>\n

Boris Yakemenko, less constrained in his rhetoric than senior officials, may be saying what others are thinking. The Kremlin’s attitude toward the pro-democracy opposition is well known. In the event of major anti-regime protests, Russian leaders may turn to methods not dissimilar to those used by the Libyan colonel. The likelihood of such protests, as Russia nears what will almost certainly be another round of “stolen” elections in December 2011 and March 2012, seems much greater than even a few months ago: a poll by the Public Opinion Foundation showed that an unprecedented 49 percent of Russians are ready to take part in protest rallies. Russia’s OSCE partners, including the United States, should make it abundantly clear to Kremlin leadership — now — that any use of force against peaceful protesters is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.<\/p>\n

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