- Alexander Barkashov
Alexander Petrovich Barkashov ( _ru. Александр Петрович Баркашов) (sometimes transliterated as Aleksandr) (born
6 October 1953 ) is aRussia n political leader on theextreme right . In 1990, Barkashov founded an ultra-nationalistpolitical party andparamilitary organization calledRussian National Unity .Biography
Born in
Moscow , of peasant roots, Barkashov's father was an electrician and his mother was a nurse. Barkashov left school in 1971 and entered the military where he served inBelarus . After his discharge, he returned to Moscow and found employment in an underground thermal energy station as anelectrician-fitter . While disinterested in his work, he was passionate about reading books about great conquerors of history (especiallyAlexander the Great andGenghis Khan ), learningkarate (even setting up his own club), and making weapons (bows anddagger s) with his own hands.Barkashov joined "
Pamyat " in 1985 and rose quickly within its ranks. He was elected to theCentral Council within a year, and by 1989 was second only toDmitry Vasilyev . Conflict between Barkashov and Vasilyev resulted in Barkashov leading, in his words, "the most disciplined and active members, dissatisfied with empty talk and theatrical stunts, out of "Pamyat". While considering other organizations to join, Barkashov and friends decided to create their own. On16 October 1990 , Barkashov and a few dozen followers gathered at his home on Moscow'sDubinin Street and founded "the National Unity for a Free Strong Just Russia" (soon shortened to "theRussian National Unity ", and informally among the "Barkashovtsy" [Barkashovites] : "the Unity" ["Yedinstvo"] ).During the
Russian constitutional crisis of 1993 , Barkashov led RNU fighters in their defense of theRussian White House againstBoris Yeltsin 's forces. Escaping arrest by fleeing Moscow, Barkashov took refuge in a nearbydacha . Shot in the hip during an argument, Barkashov was brought to a hospital were a nurse recognized him. Barkashov was imprisoned on charges of organizing and inciting mass disorder and illegally bearing arms. In early 1994, the newly electedDuma grantedamnesty to Barkashov.Following his release, Barkashov had a shift in spiritual outlook. Influenced by
Igor Antonov , Barkashov became interested inoriental religion s (such asBuddhism ) combined with Orthodoxy.In 1994, Barkashov published his book "Azbuka russkogo natsionalista" ["
ABC of a Russian Nationalist "] , which became the primary source of the RNU's platform.At the end of February 1999, one opinion poll ranked Barkashov as one of Russia's 10 most recognizable politicians [http://archive.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=7056] . Barkashov ran in the 2000 Russian presidential election. Barkashov remains the leader of the RNU (which, after numerous splits is often defined as the "RNU of A.P.Barkashov").
On 2 December 2005 Barkashov together with three of his followers was detained and arrested for "attacking a police-officer". According to the press-release of the RNU [http://www.rnebarkashov.ru/main.htm] , Barkashov himself was attacked and injured by the police officer who penetrated into Barkashov's residence.
External links
* [http://www.barkashov.com/ Alexander Barkashov's web site (russian)]
* [http://www.tkb.org/KeyLeader.jsp?memID=4158 Key leader profile: Aleksandr P. Barkashov] , at theMIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base (includes three photos).
* [http://www.nupi.no/cgi-win/Russland/personer.exe?516 Aleksandr Petrovich Barkashov] at theNUPI Centre for Russian Studies' Database .
* [http://www.etext.org/Politics/Arm.The.Spirit/Antifa/russia.fascism.overview Russian Fascism and Russian Fascists] byKirill Buketov .
* [http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:Nzk_4m2KLfgJ:www.demokratizatsiya.org/Dem%2520Archives/DEM%252004-04%2520dunlop.pdf+Barkashov+&hl=en Alexander Barkashov and the Rise of National Socialism in Russia] byJohn B. Dunlop (click [http://www.demokratizatsiya.org/Dem%20Archives/DEM%2004-04%20dunlop.pdf here] forPDF ).
* [http://www.fsumonitor.com/stories/asem1rus2.shtml Antisemitism in Russia, 1995-97] by theUnion of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union .
* [http://www.jewishmag.com/22MAG/RUSSIAN/russian.htm What is Happening inside Russia?] by Dr.Tankred Golenpolsky , in "The Jewish Magazine ".
* [http://www.magasinet-monitor.net/english/ru1200.htm Russian fascists try on new masks] byMara Vladimirova , in theAntifa "Monitor "
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