Moscow Now Targeting Federalists as well as Nationalists in Non-Russian Republics

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 18 – Under Putin, Moscow has long targeted nationalists in non-Russian republics because it sees them as a threat to the territorial integrity of the country while leaving those who advocate federalism largely alone, viewing them as a lesser evil or even allies in it fight with the nationalists, a view about the federalists that many nationalists share.

            Now, however, the situation has changed, Buryat activist Marina Khakhalayeva says. Moscow is still going after the nationalists, even though most of the prominent ones have been imprisoned or have left the country. But central authorities are increasingly attacking federalists in the republics as well (idelreal.org/a/vazhno-preodolet-v-sebe-travmu-i-chuvstvo-viny-aktivisty-o-tom-kak-vystraivat-federalizm-v-buduschey-rossii/32996111.html).

            The consequence has not been to intimidate the federalists into silence but rather to drive them into the hands of the nationalists because the former have increasingly concluded that no Moscow promises can be trusted because the center opposes recognizing the rights of the republics and regions.

            The development Khakhalayeva points is less about the non-Russians than about Moscow’s concerns about developments in the regions and its decision taken earlier this year to attack federalist ideas wherever they appear (windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2024/04/russian-justice-ministry-calls-for.html).

            What remains to be seen is whether these expanded attacks on those in predominantly Russian regions who advocate real federalism for Russia will lead such people to draw similar conclusions to their counterparts in the non-Russian republics, become radicalized, and decide that only an exit from under Moscow’s control will give them the futures they want.