Alexander Barkashov: Difference between revisions
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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[[Image: Barkashov.jpg|left|thumb|Alexander Barkashov]] |
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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 in [[Belarus]]. After his discharge, he returned to Moscow and found employment in an underground thermal energy station as an [[electrician-fitter]]. While uninterested in his work, he was passionate about reading books about great conquerors of history (especially [[Alexander the Great]] and [[Genghis Khan]]), learning [[karate]] (even setting up his own club), and making weapons ([[Bow (weapon)|bow]]s and [[dagger]]s) with his own hands. |
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 in [[Belarus]]. After his discharge, he returned to Moscow and found employment in an underground thermal energy station as an [[electrician-fitter]]. While uninterested in his work, he was passionate about reading books about great conquerors of history (especially [[Alexander the Great]] and [[Genghis Khan]]), learning [[karate]] (even setting up his own club), and making weapons ([[Bow (weapon)|bow]]s and [[dagger]]s) with his own hands. |
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Revision as of 06:40, 25 June 2010
Alexander Petrovich Barkashov (Template:Lang-ru) (sometimes transliterated as Aleksandr) (born 6 October 1953) is a Russian political leader on the extreme right. In 1990, Barkashov founded an ultra-nationalist political party and paramilitary organization called Russian 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 in Belarus. After his discharge, he returned to Moscow and found employment in an underground thermal energy station as an electrician-fitter. While uninterested in his work, he was passionate about reading books about great conquerors of history (especially Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan), learning karate (even setting up his own club), and making weapons (bows and daggers) with his own hands.
Barkashov joined Pamyat in 1985 and rose quickly within its ranks. He was elected to the Central Council within a year, and by 1989 was second only to Dmitri 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. On 16 October 1990, Barkashov and a few dozen followers gathered at his home on Moscow's Dubinin Street and founded "the National Unity for a Free Strong Just Russia" (soon shortened to "the Russian National Unity", and informally among the Barkashovtsy [Barkashovites]: "the Unity" [Yedinstvo]). Historian Walter Laqueur writes that Barkashov stated in an interview that he is a Nazi.[1]
During the Russian constitutional crisis of 1993, Barkashov led RNU fighters in their defense of the Russian White House against Boris Yeltsin's forces. Escaping arrest by fleeing Moscow, Barkashov took refuge in a nearby dacha. Shot in the thigh during an evening strall, Barkashov was brought to a hospital where a nurse recognized him. Barkashov was imprisoned on charges of organizing and inciting mass disorder and illegally bearing arms. In early 1994, the newly elected Duma granted amnesty to Barkashov.
Following his release, Barkashov had a shift in spiritual outlook. Influenced by Igor Antonov[citation needed], Barkashov became interested in oriental religions (such as Buddhism) 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[2]. 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[3], Barkashov himself was attacked and injured by the police officer who penetrated into Barkashov's residence.
Footnotes
References
- Russian Fascism: Traditions, Tendencies, Movements by Stephen D. Shenfield (M. E. Sharpe, 2001, ISBN 0-7656-0634-8 and ISBN 0-7656-0635-6).
- The Beast Reawakens by Martin A. Lee (1997, Little, Brown and Company, ISBN 0-316-51959-6), chapter eight: "Shadow Over the East"
External links
- Alexander Barkashov's web site (russian)
- Key leader profile: Aleksandr P. Barkashov, at the MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base (includes three photos).
- Aleksandr Petrovich Barkashov at the NUPI Centre for Russian Studies' Database.
- Russian Fascism and Russian Fascists by Kirill Buketov.
- Alexander Barkashov and the Rise of National Socialism in Russia by John B. Dunlop (click here for PDF).
- Antisemitism in Russia, 1995-97 by the Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union.
- What is Happening inside Russia? by Dr. Tankred Golenpolsky, in The Jewish Magazine.