I love this sort of thing. A subdivision of United Russia—a certain party called Rodina (their leader is listed as part of the United Russia faction in the State Duma)—is currently holding, as you know, in St. Petersburg... uh... a gathering of conservative organizations.
One of the most prominent guests, described as a “great friend of Russia,” is a guy named Udo Voigt.
He became a “friend of Russia” because he suddenly grew very fond of Putin.
Now let’s read what the state news agency RIA Novosti wrote about this Udo less than a year ago:
What a marvelous cycle of fascism in nature. The very same people turn from fascists into friends of Russia as quickly as water turns into steam and back again.
And this is happening in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Victory Day (the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany).
How could one not recall, forgive me:
I find all this news especially amusing to read: not long ago, in the comment sections of the Solovyov-and-Kiselyov crowd, I myself was a “scumbag Nazi” for my position on visas for residents of Central Asia and the South Caucasus, and for taking part in the Russian March; now I’m a “liberal scumbag.”
Incidentally, it’s interesting how the European far right manage to be friends at all with the United Russia crowd and all these *Rodina* types—they vote against introducing visas (a key issue for right-wing voters) and are carrying out a very real Islamization of Russia (the second key issue for conservatives).
Perhaps, at Volodin’s suggestion, they bonded over the issue of gays.
Places