Why Russians are a slave nation and why I am ashamed to be Russian. Why don't "Russian racists" send black people into space? NASA promised to figure out why Russian racists

Alexey Kovalev, 01/15/2011

Passionate reporting on Moscow's bloodthirsty skinheads overshadows Russian concerns about a different kind of nationalism.

I grew up in a quiet village near Moscow, like any other place, except that it housed the campuses of three universities and academies, one of which was especially popular with foreign students.

The word "foreigner" in Soviet times meant a citizen of a country that was an ally. You can still meet almost perfect Russian-speaking doctors and engineers in every corner of our planet - from Afghanistan to Zambia. And they remember their student years with great warmth.

The Moscow Institute of Technology in Tarasovka was especially popular with African students. Leaving the train and heading to your dacha, you could meet a group of tall basketball players from rather than a classic Russian grandmother with a shawl on her head and with a wand in her hands.

I still remember one absolutely amazing scene. I went for a swim in the Klyazma. And there I saw just a perfect reproduction of Vasnetsov's painting "Alyonushka" - trees, stones, reeds and a girl sitting in a sad and thoughtful pose. The only difference from this masterpiece of mystical realism of the Wanderers was that the heroine was black, and her hair was braided into a hundred thin braids. There was some kind of ideal impression of a mixture of cultures in which I, like other inhabitants of this quiet Russian village, lived for decades.

I grew up believing that I live in a truly international and hospitable country. I shake with anger when I read "opinions of experts", both home-grown and foreign, that Russia is a naturally racist country, haunted by the ghosts of xenophobia.

In almost every message from a story about ethnic unrest, there are statements that city streets are teeming with bloodthirsty skinheads looking for another victim of non-Slavic appearance, and square meters of newspaper strips are given away for materials that I call "Nazi porn": close-up shots of young people in knitted hats, extending their hands in a Roman salute.

But I have a completely different idea about this.

In recent months, several of my friends have been attacked in Moscow; they were shot at, they were beaten, they were stabbed with knives. In each case, the attackers turned out to be groups of young people from different Caucasian republics, mainly from. And in most cases they were released at the police station without even warning about anything.

Most of the Caucasian republics have their own "special representatives" in other regions of Russia, who are ready to help fellow countrymen in trouble. Most often this means pulling them out of the police.

Dmitry Sokolov-Mitrich, a journalist from the Izvestiya newspaper, argues that the intervention of these very “special representatives” prevents the Caucasian youth from truly integrating into Russian society and creates “impunity”.

Another journalist Alexander Mityaev, who was beaten up with his friends in a cafe by a group of Caucasians, says that the police are doing everything possible not to open a criminal investigation. Victims are often advised to withdraw their statements saying, "You know this won't do anything, so let's not waste your time or ours."

I am not saying that the danger of Russian right-wing extremism does not exist. But there is also a completely different kind of nationalism, which operates in the exact opposite direction. Many Russians know well what it is like to become a victim of ethnic persecution.

There are many examples of this: degrading “alien passports” in the Baltic states, and bullying in student dormitories and barracks (suffice it to recall the case of Maxim Sychev, who died in Rostov after a conflict with his fellow Ingush student). The few Orthodox churches that remain in the North Caucasus exist under the constant threat of desecration - because they are churches.

But in fact, none of the representatives of the Russian authorities, Western media and human rights activists recognize the existence of these problems.

Western journalists writing about ethnic issues in Russia are not just unfair, unscrupulous and biased. They with their articles exacerbate these problems.

The Russian authorities, concerned about the reputation and image of the country on the eve of the 2018 World Cup, are responding to such horror stories by tightening measures against very moderate right-wing organizations, ensuring further radicalization of their already dangerous extremist brethren. At the same time, they completely ignore the causes of the riots, fearing that they will be labeled racist.

This is what makes Russians, even those who were completely apolitical before, come to rallies and demonstrations like the one that took place on Manezhnaya Square (in fact, a completely new protest movement is now maturing, planning to hold rallies on the 11th of every month). And the point here is by no means some kind of pathological hatred for people with a different skin color. The greatest danger is that the truly vicious right-wing extremists with their hatred of immigrants could seize the initiative at such rallies.

But we are not racists. (Almost) every foreigner discovers sooner or later that Russians, despite their seeming coldness and rudeness, can turn out to be the most pleasant and hospitable people in the world. Yes, we have not yet mastered the cultural sensitivity and receptivity of the West, and the fact that in

A black girl visited Russia, visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg. One of the key points in our country that worried her was the attitude of Russians towards blacks.

She described her experiences on her blog. translation from English ):

My impressions as a black woman traveling in Russia.
If you read this blog or are friends with me on social networks, you probably already know that a few months ago my husband and I spent 10 days in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Since then, many have become interested in our journey, and I have received a lot of questions. This is not so surprising, because although Russia receives a certain number of visitors, it is still not a very popular destination for most holidaymakers.

The fact that Russia is not on the list of countries to visit for the average traveler may be due to several factors. Russia is known for being brutally cold here most of the year, very expensive here, and the dirty political past (and unstable political future) of the country make it more attractive to visit tourist centers in Western Europe. (In 2015, London and Paris ranked 1st and 3rd among the most visited cities in the world).

Also, although it may just be a guess, Russians are not considered the friendliest and warmest people. As such, Russia largely remains uncharted territory for tourists.

Given all of the above, I understand why people are so interested in our vacation in Russia - their interest is associated with the unknown. And besides the typical questions like “And? what is it like? My trip aroused curiosity on the part of black travelers who asked over and over again what it was like to travel around Russia while being blessed with melanin.

Some historical context: Africans in Russia

To understand why this question is so burning, it is necessary to know the history of the descendants of Africans in Russia and the history of the former Soviet republics. I searched the Internet and was surprised to learn that black people have always been present in the history of the USSR: according to the article, hundreds of African Americans arrived in the region between 1920 and 1930 in an attempt to find a better life, avoid the economic crisis and racial persecution with which they encountered in the US.

Black people from Africa were also not far behind: the article explains that they arrived in the Soviet Union in large numbers, hired by officials who promised them a free university education. So the social climate for black people was pretty good. Skilled black workers were highly valued. They had Western salaries and subsidized housing.

But all this contrasts sharply with recent stories about race relations in Russia.
Google turns up articles about hostility directed against blacks across the country. Attacks "at best" took the form of verbal abuse (such as racist epithets thrown at black football players from fans' stands during matches) and, at worst, physical violence during matches on Russian soil.

Therefore, it is not surprising that black travelers today are concerned about their own safety and well-being when traveling in Russia. Will they be in danger while traveling in Russia?

Traveling in Russia as a black woman - My impressions

Short version: there was not a single reason for conflict during my stay in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In fact, I was treated remarkably well. I was treated with love by the locals, which shocked me considering what I had heard and read about race relations in Russia.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ [email protected]/25480611204

Long Version: I had the feeling that I was received with open arms throughout my stay in the country. Curious glances were thrown at me, but not so long, as if penetrating into the very soul, the looks that were thrown at me in many countries of Asia. The people were incredibly polite, helpful, and cordial, especially in Moscow, which is by far the more "Russian" of the two cities (St. Petersburg looks and feels like a Western European city. I also found it more touristy, easier to navigate, if you know English, but do not know Russian (much more people speak and write English in St. Petersburg than in Moscow). Here are some examples of communications in Moscow that I liked the most:

Russian people approached us on the street and in the subway to help us find our way, although we did not ask them at all. The Moscow Metro can be quite complicated, as all names are written in Cyrillic, and most guidebooks and maps list the same stations in transliteration. Sometimes it was difficult for us, but it is very easy to find help there. One day, seeing our puzzled faces, a passer-by stopped to show us the way. He didn't speak English very well, but he spent five minutes of his time with us to point us in the right direction.

An older lady in the subway car smiled at me and patted the seat next to her, begging me to sit next to her.

The security guard at the European shopping center found out that I was from Canada and engaged us in a lively discussion about love for my country. He once lived and worked in Nova Scotia.

The young man from the Adidas store treated me with care and provided exceptional service. He thanked me for visiting the country and asked me to explore more parts of the country. He also expressed regret that Russians are perceived as "bad people" all over the world.

In the same shoe store: an elderly man came up to us from the other end of the store to suggest what kind of shoes to buy. "Lady, black is better," he said. "You'll need shoes like this to run away from a Russian man!"

These were a few (random) examples that show why I enjoyed my stay in Russia so much. I never once felt that I was being discriminated against because of my race. However, please note that these were my personal experiences and that there are a number of factors that could have influenced how I was treated. What are these factors? Read on.
Why you should take my story with a lot of skepticism

I am a black woman, not a man. It would be remiss if I admitted it. Traveling black women are less perceived as a threat than black men. Blame it, of course, on the media, which seems to be trying to propagate the idea that black people are compulsive and dangerous criminals.

I'm small and I don't look threatening. 5'3", 130 lbs. I'm small - I don't pose any physical threat. Also, I am very smiling. My face just radiates positivity and that puts a lot of people at ease.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ [email protected]/27843558362

I have visited only Moscow and St. Petersburg. These cities are very cosmopolitan, and although they are not on the level of London, Paris or Rome, they get a lot of tourists a year. Russians in these cities are well educated and used to seeing and interacting with foreign tourists. If I had dared to get off the beaten track and go to more rural cities, my impressions could be completely different.

I spent 90% of my time in the company of a white person. My husband is of Caucasian appearance, and although he is from Germany, he was often mistaken for a local. It would be foolish not to admit that his presence at my side most of the time probably shielded me from adverse reactions. Realizing this, I made sure that I spent two evenings walking around the city completely alone. Ironically, people treated me better when I was alone (see my shoe store encounter above).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ [email protected]/25812596620

I speak American English and clearly represent a person from North America. Once again, it is important to note that my American appearance, blue passport, and language provided a certain level of security even in places that are known to be racist, biased, and/or discriminatory. My voice and my clothes just screamed that I was a tourist from the West, and in many places this is an advantage. Do not believe the hype raised in the press, in many countries Americans are praised and provided with the best service.

So, are Russians racist towards black people? Should they go to Russia?

It's still hard for me to answer this question. My impressions of the trip were extremely positive, but there were so many factors on which it depends that it is difficult to give a definitive answer that would apply to everyone. Personally, I would go back (and definitely will). The architecture is amazing, the history and culture completely absorb you, the food is simply divine. However, next time I would like to go outside the main cities and explore other places - Russia is too big to rely on the impressions of Moscow and St. Petersburg to describe what kind of country it is.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ [email protected]/26059607446

What I am sure of is that you will never know what Russia is until you get there and discover it for yourself - the same can be said about any country, city or territory. So, to my black brethren, I say to you, hit the road and explore, and don't forget to arm yourself with the necessary information, stories, and evidence before you travel.

Watch my Youtube channel to learn more about my trip to Russia:

Black people, I would like to know: did the threat of being racist in Russia influenced your decision not to go there? Have you ever been a victim of racial discrimination abroad? Where? And for those of you who have been to Russia, what are your impressions?

A little about Onikka Raymond: New York-based writer, educator, videographer, and travel lover. Traveled to more than 100 countries on 6 continents. Follow me on my travels around the world!

Readers of the black girl's blog shared their impressions of the trip to Russia and other post-Soviet countries.

Here are some of the comments:

Carolina Otieno:

I like your wording in this post. You approached the topic very thoughtfully, and not like: “hey! I've been to Russia and I'm black, and that's why blacks are loved in Russia."

One of my brothers studied in Russia in the late 90s and early 2000s. He returned in 2005, he was about 30 years old, but his hair had already turned gray (stress + winter?). He was clearly injured. He began studying at the Moscow University of Peoples' Friendship, but he had to leave because of the danger posed by skinheads. Some African and Asian students were targeted and lynched just because their skin was a few shades darker.

On public transport, he was often pushed in the ribs by elderly Russian women to get him out of their way. The police constantly stopped him to check his documents. In the end, my brother moved to Kursk, but when he returned to Kenya, he swore that his foot would no longer be in Europe after this.

Of course, everyone has their own impression, but I do not agree that black women are treated better. I have a black girlfriend, a Kenyan, she studies in Volgograd, everything is fine with her, she copes with everything.

And despite all these stories, I would like to see Russia. My brother also had positive stories. He said that Russia has the most delicious cakes, and a unique architectural aesthetic with colorful domed buildings. Was vodka cheaper than water?
I would go to these countries without fear, because I know that everyone has their own experience, in every trip you experience negative and positive emotions, but since human kindness is everywhere, it will be good everywhere.

I live in the Netherlands and it seems to me that this country is quite tolerant, but I have faced discrimination. Mine is almost always followed by a security guard at the store. I was yelled at several times on buses and boats. The Dutch are pretty cool... but there are a few people who act like racists. By the way, here in the Netherlands, they treat me better if I go with a white guy.

Honest:
I visited Ukraine in 2009 for work. Once I was walking down the street with an Asian colleague, right in the center of Kyiv. And some guy punched me in the face and knocked me down. When I got up, he disappeared. So I'm not sure I would risk my safety. I know a black member of the US Foreign Service who was beaten so badly that the agency decided to remove all African Americans from their posts from this region. I have been to the Balkans and more southerly countries that were part of the Soviet Union, and everything went without problems.

Melissa:
… I should note that on my list of countries to visit, Russia is so low that it is not listed at all. This is due to the fact that I am interested in the history and culture of other countries that I would like to visit in the first place.
Jules: … my old apartment was in an area where a lot of Russians lived. I never had a problem with them, even though there weren't many black people around. Yes, one pervert lived two doors away from me, but this is an isolated case. Russian men are prone to drunkenness, so I would advise single female travelers to be careful when choosing evening entertainment. St. Petersburg is on my list of cities to visit.

Bloom:
…I recently returned from a trip to Moscow and my impression of the trip is 95% excellent. The city is beautiful, and the Russians seemed to me very kind, curious and friendly to me, as to a black woman. Although the language barrier was very serious.
Unfortunately, almost at the end of my trip, I was passing by the Kremlin and a man attacked me (he grabbed my ass, slapped me and yelled something at me in Russian). He just ran up to me as I was walking quietly along a busy road (think the equivalent of a street 10 minutes walk from Times Square in New York) and then ran away. Since I have many friends in Russia, I rarely went alone. This case surprised me. To say the least! The complete lack of response from passers-by around us was even more shocking, and frankly, said a lot about the culture in regards to dealing with racially motivated hate crimes.
Due to this negative case, I unfortunately do not recommend trips to this country at the moment. I really had a great time, but as mentioned earlier, during the trip I was with a group of hospitable Russian (mostly male) friends. It seemed to me that I could be attacked, and this would have no consequences for the attacker. And this is something that worries. There are so few black people in the city of blo that a group of black female travelers will stand out strongly. Let's hope for a more open and cultured Russia in the future, because it's really a beautiful place.

James T:
…I was supposed to teach English in Moscow this summer and autumn. Both calls were canceled at the last minute. It took me a long time to get an answer from them - why? And one manager told me that they had to abandon me because they thought some parents might ask “why is my child being taught by a black person?” Reading your posts and the posts of other people, I understood what the manager was talking about, but not to say that I agree with their decision. I came across something similar in China.

A black girl visited Russia, visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg. One of the key points in our country that worried her was the attitude of Russians towards blacks.

She described her impressions in her blog (translated from English):

My impressions as a black woman traveling in Russia.

If you read this blog or are friends with me on social networks, you probably already know that a few months ago my husband and I spent 10 days in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Also, although it may just be a guess, Russians are not considered the friendliest and warmest people. As such, Russia largely remains uncharted territory for tourists.

Given all of the above, I understand why people are so interested in our vacation in Russia - their interest is connected with the unknown. And besides the typical questions like “And? what is it like? My trip aroused curiosity on the part of black travelers who asked again and again what it was like to travel around Russia while being blessed with melanin.

When I share photos and observations online, I get variations on the same question over and over again:

“Is it true that Russians are racist towards blacks?”
“Have you been subjected to racial discrimination in Russia?”
“How did you feel traveling in Russia as a black woman?”

Some historical context: Africans in Russia

To understand why this question is so burning, it is necessary to know the history of the descendants of Africans in Russia and the history of the former Soviet republics. I searched the Internet and was surprised to learn that black people have always been present in the history of the USSR: according to the article, hundreds of African Americans arrived in the region between 1920 and 1930 in an attempt to find a better life, avoid the economic crisis and racial persecution with which they encountered in the US.

But all this contrasts sharply with recent stories about race relations in Russia.

Google turns up articles about hostility directed against blacks across the country. The attacks “at best” took the form of verbal abuse (such as racist epithets thrown at black football players from the stands of fans during matches) and, at worst, physical violence during matches on Russian soil.

Therefore, it is not surprising that black travelers today are concerned about their own safety and well-being when traveling in Russia. Will they be in danger while traveling in Russia?

Traveling Russia as Black - My Impressions

Short version: there was not a single reason for conflict during my stay in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In fact, I was treated remarkably well. I was treated with love by the locals, which shocked me considering what I had heard and read about race relations in Russia.

Long version: I felt like I was welcomed with open arms throughout my stay in the country. Curious glances were thrown at me, but not so long, as if penetrating into the very soul, the looks that were thrown at me in many countries of Asia. The people were incredibly polite, helpful, and cordial, especially in Moscow, which is by far the more "Russian" of the two cities (St. Petersburg looks and feels like a Western European city. I also found it more touristy, easier to navigate, if you know English, but do not know Russian (much more people speak and write English in St. Petersburg than in Moscow). Here are some examples of communications in Moscow that I liked the most:

An older lady in the subway car smiled at me and patted the seat next to her, begging me to sit next to her.

The security guard at the European shopping center found out that I was from Canada and engaged us in a lively discussion about love for my country. He once lived and worked in Nova Scotia.

Why you should take my story with a lot of skepticism

I'm small and I don't look threatening. 5'3", 130 lbs. I'm small - I don't pose any physical threat. Also, I am very smiling. My face just radiates positivity and that puts a lot of people at ease.

So, are Russians racist towards black people? Should they go to Russia?

A little about Onikka Raymond: New York-based writer, educator, videographer, and travel lover. Traveled to more than 100 countries on 6 continents. Follow me on my travels around the world!

Readers of the black girl's blog shared their impressions of the trip to Russia and other post-Soviet countries.

Here are some of the comments:

Carolina Otieno:

I like your wording in this post. You approached the topic very thoughtfully, and not like: “hey! I've been to Russia and I'm black, and that's why blacks are loved in Russia."

I visited Ukraine in 2009 for work. Once I was walking down the street with an Asian colleague, right in the center of Kyiv. And some guy punched me in the face and knocked me down. When I got up, he disappeared. So I'm not sure I would risk my safety. I know a black member of the US Foreign Service who was beaten so badly that the agency decided to remove all African Americans from their posts from this region. I have been to the Balkans and more southerly countries that were part of the Soviet Union, and everything went without problems.

… I should note that on my list of countries to visit, Russia is so low that it is not listed at all. This is due to the fact that I am interested in the history and culture of other countries that I would like to visit in the first place.

Jules: … my old apartment was in an area where a lot of Russians lived. I never had a problem with them, even though there weren't many black people around. Yes, one pervert lived two doors away from me, but this is an isolated case. Russian men are prone to drunkenness, so I would advise single female travelers to be careful when choosing evening entertainment. St. Petersburg is on my list of cities to visit.

…I recently returned from a trip to Moscow and my impression of the trip is 95% excellent. The city is beautiful, and the Russians seemed to me very kind, curious and friendly to me as a black woman. Although the language barrier was very serious.

Unfortunately, almost at the end of my trip, I was passing by the Kremlin and a man attacked me (he grabbed my ass, slapped me and yelled something at me in Russian). He just ran up to me as I was walking quietly along a busy road (think the equivalent of a street 10 minutes walk from Times Square in New York) and then ran away. Since I have many friends in Russia, I rarely went alone. This case surprised me. To say the least! The complete lack of response from passers-by around us was even more shocking, and frankly, said a lot about the culture in regards to dealing with racially motivated hate crimes.

Due to this negative case, I unfortunately do not recommend trips to this country at the moment. I really had a great time, but as mentioned earlier, during the trip I was with a group of hospitable Russian (mostly male) friends. It seemed to me that I could be attacked, and this would have no consequences for the attacker. And this is something that worries. There are so few black people in the city of blo that a group of black female travelers will stand out strongly. Let's hope for a more open and cultured Russia in the future, because it's really a beautiful place.

…I was supposed to teach English in Moscow this summer and autumn. Both calls were canceled at the last minute. It took me a long time to get an answer from them - why? And one manager told me that they had to abandon me because they thought some parents might ask “why is my child being taught by a black person?” Reading your posts and the posts of other people, I understood what the manager was talking about, but not to say that I agree with their decision. I came across something similar in China.

The most common questions to Russian nationalists and answers to them

Russian nationalists have mastered the art of dealing with polemicists in discussions about illegal migration and in disputes about international politics. But there are topics that are actually taboo for Russian nationalists. Sick spots. Points where they can beat and beat, as well as those questions that are inconvenient to answer. Sometimes you don't even know how to answer them. These are the questions I ask today to Konstantin Krylov, one of the leaders of the intellectual nationalist movement.

What do Russian nationalism, Nazism and racism have in common, including with Hitler's fans?

Why do they consider Russian nationalists to be their own, including those who actively and aggressively oppose the Russian Orthodox Church?

How do Russian nationalists intend to interact with the supporters of General Vlasov?

Why do Russian nationalists think it possible to come out next to the Nazis and National Socialists?

Are Russian nationalists anti-Semites?

Why are they called Russian nationalists, including separatists, supporters of the Novgorod republics and similar bearers of separatist ideology?

Why do Russian nationalists meet with hostility any initiatives of systemic parties aimed at supporting the nationalist discourse, in particular, we are talking about the Russian club of United Russia and the latest initiatives of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation?

Why do Russian nationalists constantly quarrel and cannot create a single nationalist movement?

How exactly do Russian nationalists intend to solve the issue of historical reconciliation of generations, given the presence of both red and white discourses in the nationalist movement and irreconcilable differences between them?

What exactly do Russian nationalists think about property in Russia, including the results of privatization, and do they intend to take any action in the event of coming to power to revise the results of privatization?

How are Russian nationalists going to save the nation?

What policy, in the opinion of Russian nationalists, should be pursued in relation to the CIS countries?

How does a Russian nationalist relate to the concept of empire, its cultural and civilizing function?

Can the Russian state remain within the same geographical boundaries if it embarks on the path of nationalism, in which direction should the change of borders take place, if so, and how?

What peoples are aggressive and hostile towards the Russian people?

What exactly do Russian nationalists want to build in Russia if they come to power?

How exactly do Russian nationalists intend to build relations with Russian citizens of a different nationality, if they come to power?

It is clear that the author of the questions simply brought together the most common prejudices and misconceptions about modern Russian nationalism. On the other hand, these are indeed common prejudices and influential misconceptions. Therefore, I have tried to answer each question in as much detail as possible.

I treat Mr. Bremzis and his entourage with sincere sympathy and wish these people a speedy recovery.

In conclusion, about the possible reasons for sympathy for the figure of the collaborator general. The Russian history of the last century was extremely tragic and ended in a geopolitical collapse. In such a situation, people tend to dream about other versions of history, and believe that if this and that had not happened, everything would have turned out better. It is pointless to condemn them for this: this is a property of the psyche. So, we have a lot of people who are sure that if it were not for the revolution of 1917, we would live in a great country - and nostalgic for the "Russia that we lost." Others regret that Stalin did not live another ten years and build a technocratic utopia. Someone regrets the "Kosygin reforms", and someone - about the election of Gorbachev as Secretary General. There are those who believe that Hitler's occupation of the Soviet Union in 1941 would have brought less trouble and suffering to the Russian people than continued communist domination.

Well, I can imagine a version of world history in which this would be possible. The plot is interesting for a novelist - I myself would gladly read a well-written novel on a similar topic. However, as a writer, I could write something similar, why not?

All this is of no practical importance. As Dmitry Demushkin, the leader of one very radical organization, constantly accused of sympathizing with “fascism and Hitlerism”, spoke about this: “There is no task - to resurrect the fascists and replay the war for them, to capture Stalingrad and Moscow. Hitler is dead. We won".

However, “weeping for Hitler” is still not entirely harmless, as it hurts the feelings of many Russian people whose ancestors fought against the German invaders. But in this case, it makes sense to see which side has more Hitlerophiles. I remember well that in the era of perestroika and in the nineties, Hitlerophilia was considered quite decent in the liberal camp. You can meet many public characters, from journalists to historians, who publicly and in print talked about how Hitler was better than Stalin, and how we would drink Bavarian beer “under the Germans”. By the way, most of these people share Russophobic ideas to some extent. I'm not even talking about the general liberal cult of such odious figures as, say, Pinochet. Moreover, the liberal cult of "Pinochet's great reforms", in contrast to the armchair arguments of historiosophists, caused enormous real harm to Russia - since, among other things, it formed the basis of the ideological justification of the reforms of 1992-1994. This cult is shared even now, including by people close to power... For some reason, none of them are charged with fascism, most likely because they prudently staked out the right to throw such an accusation.

4. Why do Russian nationalists think it is possible to act side by side with the Nazis and National Socialists?

Who is performing next to whom? Do Russian nationalists really go to some kind of “Nazi events” organized by “Nazis and National Socialists”, try to fit their ideas into “Nazi programs”, trail behind the Nazi columns?

No, nobody has seen anything like it. Russian nationalists are an independent force, they organize events, they voice their own slogans, they have their own program, and it is not Nazi. There is no need to talk about any accession of Russian nationalists to some kind of "Nazis".

What is really taking place? Some people who consider themselves "fascists" or "National Socialists" (or call themselves such - confessing some fantasies of their own on this topic instead of real National Socialism, see above for the reasons for this), express sympathy for Russian nationalists and participate in our promotions. We do not go to them, but they go to us.

Is it good? From the point of view of an authoritarian, aggressive-defensive consciousness — characteristic, alas, of many — this, of course, is terrible. If the wrong people come to a rally or picket, they must be driven out, even if they are friendly, and even especially if they are friendly. Whoever has not signed a party program of a thousand points with blood, has not taken an oath of allegiance to all our idols and has not cursed all our enemies - let him be expelled from our ranks ... We know this logic well, don't we?

But no. We Russian nationalists do not want and will not behave in this way. The Russian movement is not a sect, not a bunch of paranoids, and not a paid party. We are not afraid of anyone - and therefore we invite everyone to come to us, including representatives of the most extreme views. Let them - fascists, liberals, democrats, conservatives, communists, believers, non-believers - come to us, let them participate in our affairs, let them become Russian nationalists. We are ready to interact with everyone who is not hostile to Russian interests and is open to dialogue.

5. Are Russian nationalists anti-Semites?

Yes, of course, one can find anti-Semites among Russian nationalists. You can probably find them among the liberals, and among the communists, and even among the fans of Cthulhu. Anti-Semites, imagine, are found even among the Jews.

However, among all of the above, there are also Zionists - in the sense, supporters of the state of Israel. Among Russian nationalists, pro-Israeli views are quite common, as well as anti-Israeli ones. But Israel is seen by many as a good example of a strong nation-state, if not a role model.

Anyway, these are just opinions and sympathies. As for the essential features of contemporary Russian nationalism, anti-Semitism is not one of them. Russian nationalists do not set as their goal the "destruction of the Jews" or something like that.

This is easy to prove, and not in words, but in deeds. Despite constant cries about “anti-Semitism”, “coming pogroms” and other verbal filth, in all these years there has not been a single attempt to commit such actions in reality. All that “fighters against anti-Semitism” can produce is someone’s words. At the same time, the Jews said and wrote much more dirty tricks about the Russians. But as far as practice is concerned, all that can be remembered here is a booby-trapped anti-Semitic poster (remember?), and the unfortunate patient Koptsev, who acted out of motives known rather to psychiatrists. But the monstrous "anti-fascist" campaign, which led to the tightening of the political regime in Russia and used, in particular, the "Koptsev case", was carried out by people who were clinically healthy - although one could doubt their moral usefulness.

Of course, Russian nationalists in their propaganda and agitation pay some attention to the actions of the Jewish lobby in general (for example, organizations such as the RJC), as well as specific Jews who have power or leverage and use it not for the benefit of Russia and the Russian people. In particular, many Russian nationalists sympathized with and supported Russian President V.V. Putin in the situation with the "Gusinsky group", and later - with the Yukos case. On the other hand, the late General Rokhlin was popular among Russian nationalists - whose Jewish origin, by the way, was the subject of ridicule from the liberal media.

This testifies to a simple thing: Russian nationalists judge people and nations by their deeds. We do not see Jews as angels who cannot be criticized, or animals whose actions cannot be morally judged. Imagine, we consider Jews to be people - like everyone else. And if it is possible to discuss the history, culture, politics and national interests of Russians, Poles, Americans, Tajiks, Chechens and even the mysterious Eskimos - why not when it comes to Jews? Is there anti-Semitism in this?

The "terrestrial" question baffled the director of the American space agency when the moderator of the event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington asked the head of NASA if the Russians had a ban on the flights of black astronauts? After all, since 2011, when the American shuttle program was curtailed and the Russian Soyuz began to deliver it into orbit, an African American has been on the ISS.

Expert: the US idea to "privatize" the ISS is a "madhouse"The White House plans to privatize the ISS, American media write. The head of the Space Policy Institute, Ivan Moiseev, on the air of Sputnik radio, assessed the chances of the United States to implement such plans.

Needless to say, this was an unexpected question. He was not surprised, given the hysteria about alleged racism in Russia, which was staged by the Western media on the eve of the World Cup. The materials were literally sucked out of the pen, and the authors found all the signs of infringement of blacks where they never existed and do not exist.

The reaction of the director of NASA was unexpected. The only thing he could answer was that he had not heard of anything like that and would look into this matter. How - whether he will write official requests in order to later demonstrate them to journalists and colleagues, or just casually ask at breakfast - this, in general, is not important. Because he already knows the answer: nothing like this exists in Russia.

Expert: NASA is well aware of the consequences of abandoning the Russian RD-180Energomash" has planned a record volume of deliveries of rocket engines to the United States. Nathan Eismont, an expert from the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said on Sputnik radio that this record could have been foreseen.

Why did the head of NASA not immediately voice this? Maybe because then one would have to answer a reasonable but uncomfortable question: why have only astronauts with white skin been flying into space from the United States for seven years already? How to explain this, if it is NASA who decides who will fly and who will not? For example, Jeanette Epps, who was supposed to be the first African-American woman on the ISS crew, was suspended from the flight almost before launch. Instead, the white-skinned Serina Auñón-Chancellor went into orbit. There was no explanation from NASA in this regard. But brother Jeannette Epps then accused the agency of racial prejudice.

Now the head of NASA should not go into explanations. It's easier to pretend that the problems are in Russia. After all, black citizens in the Russian expanses live just nothing. So, racism blooms in full bloom right there!

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