Belov-Dyomushkin’s “Russians” remained the only more or less sizable nationalist organization not under the Kremlin’s control.
For all its notoriety, it was an organization—and leadership—that tried to remake itself along the lines of modern European nationalism and speak about the real interests of Russians and Russia, rather than all that imperial nonsense about conquering neighboring countries.
It was precisely in 2014–2015 (“Russian Spring!”) that pressure on nationalist movements reached its peak. There had been nothing like it even in the heyday of the “Russian Marches” (annual nationalist demonstrations in Russia). Belov was thrown into a psychiatric hospital, and then into prison. Dyomushkin was constantly cycling through administrative detentions. Most of the leaders simply left politics. Those who remained went semi-underground.
All in the best traditions of the mafia: “Plata O Plomo” (“silver or lead”). Either you are the kind of nationalist who goes on the zombie box (slang for state TV), praises the national leader, and demands war in Ukraine (only to switch positions midair at any moment and, forgetting about Ukraine, start demanding war with Syria), or “activity on the territory of Russia is prohibited.”
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