The notion of nationalism as an ideology inherently prone to violence is hopelessly outdated.

I view the results of the “New Political Nationalism” conference positively. It seems to me that we managed to demonstrate something fundamentally important: the notion of nationalism as some kind of grim ideology inclined toward violence is completely and hopelessly outdated. Those who think that way are still living in 1993. Today’s Russian nationalism is a modern European ideology, capable of responding to the challenges Russia is currently facing. I would like to note that no merger of organizations took place. That is, no new structures or new governing bodies were created. All conference participants fully retain their organizational status. I would describe this as a political club of Russian nationalists who have distanced themselves from people discrediting the national movement. These include both pseudo-patriotic Kremlin groups and violence-prone groups that do nothing but engage in provocations that bring us under fire from critics. At present, there is no political process in the country. We have United Russia and the presidential administration. The political process is the sort of thing that is one way today and completely different tomorrow. When we talk about the possibilities for our participation in the political process, we have to look at the current situation, in which we are deprived of broad access to the media and major financial resources, yet nevertheless rely on the support of no less than 35% of the population, who firmly share nationalist views in the sense in which we present them. Therefore, I think we will be able to fight quite effectively to ensure that nationalists are given the opportunity to participate in the political process. Because right now they are completely excluded from it, even though this is the country’s main political force. We are ready to engage with everyone. The left, the liberals, and we ourselves all have one task: to secure the existence of a normal, competitive political process. Once that task has been accomplished through joint efforts, we will then compete within that process. And in that sense, both the left and the liberals will become our opponents. But for now there is only a bare field, occupied by some crooks from United Russia, put there by who knows whom, and in this situation we must, of course, act jointly with the left and the liberals.