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ICYMI 4/13/20
Russian Imperialist Movement [RIM] embraces designation as terrorist organization
https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Russian-Imperialist-Movement-embraces-designation-15196442.php
Russian Imperialist Movement [RIM] embraces designation as terrorist organization
https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Russian-Imperialist-Movement-embraces-designation-15196442.php
When the State Department designated a Russian white-supremacist group, RIM, as a terrorist entity, some supporters saw it as an honor, almost like a coming-of-age moment.
It was affirming for RIM leader Stanislav Vorobyov. "A reward," he called it.
It was affirming for RIM leader Stanislav Vorobyov. "A reward," he called it.
The terrorist designation marks a U.S. shot across the bow on Russian authorities' relative tolerance of RIM and an associated paramilitary training operation outside St. Petersburg.
Despite Vorobyov's bravado, the designation is likely to:
hinder RIM's moves to forge ties with far-right groups in the US and Eu
frustrate its efforts to attract foreign ultranationalists to travel to Russia for combat training.
hinder RIM's moves to forge ties with far-right groups in the US and Eu
frustrate its efforts to attract foreign ultranationalists to travel to Russia for combat training.
The designation also comes amid concern over increasing violence by far-right groups, as militant Russian ultranationalists dream of creating a worldwide movement.
April 6 2020
Igor Girkin, a former Russian intel officer charged with murder by Dutch authorities over the downing of a Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in 2014 was one of the first to congratulate RIM after the U.S. terrorist designation
Igor Girkin, a former Russian intel officer charged with murder by Dutch authorities over the downing of a Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in 2014 was one of the first to congratulate RIM after the U.S. terrorist designation
Girkin is also under sanction by the United States and the European Union.
Girkin aka Igor Strelkov, played a key role in Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and was commander and defense minister in the separatist Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
Girkin aka Igor Strelkov, played a key role in Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and was commander and defense minister in the separatist Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
"I take the opportunity to congratulate my esteemed comrade-in-arms of RID on receiving a high award - official recognition of their 'terrorist organization' by the enemies of Russia and the Russian people," Girkin wrote on social media, using the Russian acronym for RIM.
RIM, which describes itself as a
Russian Orthodox monarchical movement, often posts anti-Semitic and anti-LGBT tropes.
Themes include the collapse of Russia under incompetent and corrupt elites, and a coming clash of civilizations.
Russian Orthodox monarchical movement, often posts anti-Semitic and anti-LGBT tropes. Themes include the collapse of Russia under incompetent and corrupt elites, and a coming clash of civilizations.
The designation of RIM as a terrorist organization was the State Department's first declaration of an extremist far-right group as terrorist, reflecting growing concern about violence by such groups.
The State Department also designated as terrorists 3 associated individuals:
Vorobyov
Denis Gariev
Nikolay Trushchalov
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed he did not know enough about the group to comment.
Vorobyov
Denis Gariev
Nikolay Trushchalov
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed he did not know enough about the group to comment.
"Since 2015 I would say that this [RIM] has been posing an increasing threat to European societies...Many things can be dangerous for Western societies but at the same time useful for the Kremlin, like RIM."
— Anton Shekhovtsov, expert at the Univ of Vienna on Eu’s far right
— Anton Shekhovtsov, expert at the Univ of Vienna on Eu’s far right
But he said Putin and Peskov probably were not paying any attention to a fringe group such as RIM.
"I don't think that either Putin or Peskov are dealing with these questions. It's just below their radar," he said. "They deal with much more significant things."
"I don't think that either Putin or Peskov are dealing with these questions. It's just below their radar," he said. "They deal with much more significant things."
Putin first embraced this theme when, campaigning for his third term as president in EARLY 2012, he presented Russia not only as a military power, but also as a “civilizational model” that could rally all those who were fed up with the erosion of traditional values.
Putin’s #WhiteSupremacist boosting agenda is as much about accomplishing strategic goals like destabilizing Europe and NATO, or forcing the European Union to rescind the sanctions it applied after his forays into Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
Russia also shares with far-right groups across the world a deeply held belief that, regardless of their party, traditional elites should be deposed because of their support for globalism and transnational institutions like NATO and the European Union.
RIM's interests have at times closely matched the Kremlin's. 
RIM members fought alongside pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine. https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1174458322650636288
RIM members fought alongside pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine. https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1174458322650636288
RIM offers paramilitary training in urban warfare, including training two members of a Swedish neo-fascist group who were sent to prison in 2017 over bomb attacks. https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1162384008451436549
"The fact that we were put on the list was a good advertisement for us. Trump has increased our popularity...We have received letters from many countries, letters of support saying that this decision was not fair and that 'We support you.' "
—RIM's leader https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1247212019373223937
—RIM's leader https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1247212019373223937
The group tried to leverage its notoriety for recruiting, but its Fb, Twitter & IG pages were shut down after the US terrorism designation.
Russia's Internet control and censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, then blocked access to RIM's website.
But the group's VKontakte and Telegram accounts are still active. (Both companies are owned by Russians)
But the group's VKontakte and Telegram accounts are still active. (Both companies are owned by Russians)
Gariev, a history graduate, openly runs an associated paramilitary course, Partisan, in deserted buildings outside St. Petersburg where participants learn to use combat tactics & sniper / Kalashnikov rifles.
There is a strict ban on alcohol and cursing.
There is a strict ban on alcohol and cursing.
"I was put on the sanctions list, but I don't know yet what the risks for me are. I have no idea. We'll live and see," Gariev said in an interview.
RIM leader, Vorobyov, saw the terrorism designation as related to Trump's bid for reelection and his efforts to garner support.
"He wants to present himself as a fighter against racists..." Vorobyov said.
(Even they see through his bs)
"He wants to present himself as a fighter against racists..." Vorobyov said.
(Even they see through his bs)
But he said the blocking of the website was "a major blow. . . . Many materials, books, publications, archives and articles were all on one site, and now they are destroyed."
The group's Russian bank accounts also have been blocked.
The group's Russian bank accounts also have been blocked.
Gariev said the terrorism designation was "a big surprise. Probably they decided to put our movement on the list of terrorist organizations because we took an active part in the events in Donbass,"
But then he adds that the main reason is cuz they be Christian.
But then he adds that the main reason is cuz they be Christian.
Until now, Vorobyov has been able to travel freely around Europe as part of his group's efforts to forge links with foreign far-right groups.
2015
Vorobyov was part of a conference of international far-right groups in St. Petersburg.
Sept 2015
Vorobyov visited the Nordic Resistance Movement in Sweden, donating an unknown amount money.
Nov 2015
Vorobyov he was at a gathering of right-wing extremists in Madrid.
Vorobyov was part of a conference of international far-right groups in St. Petersburg.
Sept 2015
Vorobyov visited the Nordic Resistance Movement in Sweden, donating an unknown amount money.
Nov 2015
Vorobyov he was at a gathering of right-wing extremists in Madrid.
Nov 2019
Vorobyov traveled to Vienna for a congress hosted by the monarchist Black-Yellow Alliance at Parkhotel Schönbrunn, a restored former guesthouse for the palace of Emperor Franz Joseph I, ruler of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
RIM has made overtures to US groups, too.
Vorobyov traveled to Vienna for a congress hosted by the monarchist Black-Yellow Alliance at Parkhotel Schönbrunn, a restored former guesthouse for the palace of Emperor Franz Joseph I, ruler of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
RIM has made overtures to US groups, too.
2015
Jared Taylor, who runs Stephen Miller’s fav white supremacist website, traveled to the St. Petersburg
conference.
Since 2015
Matthew Heimbach, US white supremacist & UnitetheRight organizer has been trying to construct links w RU nationalists. https://twitter.com/LuluLemew/status/1225440586863403010?s=20
Jared Taylor, who runs Stephen Miller’s fav white supremacist website, traveled to the St. Petersburg
conference.
Since 2015
Matthew Heimbach, US white supremacist & UnitetheRight organizer has been trying to construct links w RU nationalists. https://twitter.com/LuluLemew/status/1225440586863403010?s=20
2015
Heimbach launches his Traditionalist Worker Party (TWP)
Heimbach hosts Alexander Dugin, Russia’s neo-fascist polemicist — although Dugin, due to the United States’ sanctions regime, could only appear via video. http://projects.aljazeera.com/2015/07/hate-groups/
Heimbach launches his Traditionalist Worker Party (TWP)
Heimbach hosts Alexander Dugin, Russia’s neo-fascist polemicist — although Dugin, due to the United States’ sanctions regime, could only appear via video. http://projects.aljazeera.com/2015/07/hate-groups/
2016
Heimbach announces his intentions to travel to Russia’s World National Conservative Movement conference, but his travel plans eventually fell through. So sad. http://www.eurasianet.org/node/79686
Heimbach announces his intentions to travel to Russia’s World National Conservative Movement conference, but his travel plans eventually fell through. So sad. http://www.eurasianet.org/node/79686
Early Sept 2017
Matthew Heimbach meets RIM representative Stanislav Shevchuk in US.
Speaking with ThinkProgress, Heimbach revealed that he had spent time in both Washington, D.C., and Gettysburg, Pa., with a representative from the RIM (Stanislav Shevchuk) https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1166716541204946944
Matthew Heimbach meets RIM representative Stanislav Shevchuk in US.
Speaking with ThinkProgress, Heimbach revealed that he had spent time in both Washington, D.C., and Gettysburg, Pa., with a representative from the RIM (Stanislav Shevchuk) https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1166716541204946944
Sept 22, 2017
Russian, American white nationalists raise their flags in DC
"The big thing was being able to identify that their goals and our goals are very similar." https://twitter.com/LuluLemew/status/1225769739013836800?s=20
Russian, American white nationalists raise their flags in DC
"The big thing was being able to identify that their goals and our goals are very similar." https://twitter.com/LuluLemew/status/1225769739013836800?s=20
2014
RIM's paramilitary wing, the Imperial Legion, fought in eastern Ukraine on the side of pro-Russian separatists.
RIM trained several hundred volunteers to fight in eastern Ukraine.
RIM's paramilitary wing, the Imperial Legion, fought in eastern Ukraine on the side of pro-Russian separatists.
RIM trained several hundred volunteers to fight in eastern Ukraine.
One member, Alexander Zhuchkovsky, led an operation to send supplies, including radios, uniforms, cellphones, drones, binoculars and even soap, batteries and toothpaste to support the pro-Russian fighters.
2014
Zhuchkovsky told Der Spiegel he had raised about $485,000 for the effort.
The war, in which 13,000 people have been killed, drags on, with recent renewed peace efforts faltering.
Zhuchkovsky told Der Spiegel he had raised about $485,000 for the effort.
The war, in which 13,000 people have been killed, drags on, with recent renewed peace efforts faltering.
RIM also drew notoriety for training two members of the Swedish neo-fascist organization Nordic Resistance who were later convicted of bomb attacks on a left-wing bookstore and two centers for asylum seekers in Gothenburg.
Russia has long bolstered far-right fringe groups in Europe, including ultranationalists in Slovakia, Hungary, Montenegro and Bosnia, as part of the Kremlin's strategy of sowing discord & instability in Europe. https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1159627428928643072
In its search for voices supporting Kremlin policies, Russia also has courted more-mainstream far-right politicians in Europe such as France's Marine Le Pen, head of the National Rally party.
Europe's ultranationalists often express admiration for Putin, who pretends he’s a 
virtuous model of traditional Russian manhood...rejecting same-sex rights & liberalism. https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1220718422901907456
virtuous model of traditional Russian manhood...rejecting same-sex rights & liberalism. https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1220718422901907456
In contrast, the Russian Imperial Movement abhors Putin and the oligarchic elite that sustains him.
Vorobyov acknowledges that the "reward" of the terrorism designation could cause problems with Russian authorities.
Vorobyov acknowledges that the "reward" of the terrorism designation could cause problems with Russian authorities.
From Heimbach to the Base’s Nazzaro to an unnamed white supremacist leader & New Zealand soldier who planned to travel to Russia prior to his Dec 2019 arrest, the relationship between white extremists & the Russian state demands further attention.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118298650/arrested-new-zealand-soldier-with-farright-ties-was-questioned-after-march-15-attacks https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1225440616588464133
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/118298650/arrested-new-zealand-soldier-with-farright-ties-was-questioned-after-march-15-attacks https://twitter.com/lululemew/status/1225440616588464133
