Putin's Fascists: Russkii Obraz and the Politics of Managed Nationalism in Russia

This book examines the relationship between the Putin regime and Russkii Obraz, a neo-nazi organization that became a major force on Russia's radical nationalist scene in 2008-10. It shows how Russkii Obraz's rise was boosted by the regime's policy of 'managed nationalism, ' which mobilised radical nationalist proxies against opponents of authoritarianism. In return for undermining moderate nationalists and pro-democracy activists, Russkii Obraz received official support and access to public space. What made this collaboration politically hazardous for the Kremlin was Russkii Obraz's neo-Nazi ideology and its connections to BORN, a terrorist group responsible for a series of high-profile killings. When security forces captured the ringleader of BORN, they precipitated the destruction of Russkii Obraz and a crisis for managed nationalism. Using court records and extensive media and internet sources, this book sheds new light on the complex interaction between the Kremlin, the far-right, and neo-Nazi skinheads during Russia's descent into authoritarianism.