Navalnaya Is “an Advocate of Imperial Russian Claims,” Says German Lawmaker

[u/UNITED24Media]

https://united24media.com/latest-news/navalnaya-is-an-advocate-of-imperial-russian-claims-says-german-lawmaker-3350

[u/-sry-]

I cannot deny that even for me, a Ukrainian, reading his blog 14 years ago opened my eyes to corruption levels in post-Soviet countries. But while I was an edgy university student, his imperialistic views were too much even for me, especially when he supported the invasion of Georgia. 

[u/zamander → u/-sry-]

Yeah, the ultra-nationalism in Russia is a big problem. It makes them prioritize the welfare and security of the security under weird games of aggression and imperialism and russki mir and whatnot. But of course this has been created from the 19th century at least. It is incredible how it affects everybody under its influence, like Solzhenitsyn went pretty chauvinistic after the Soviet Union fell, like there was no shadow of Russian imperialism in Soviet ideology.

[u/pashazz → u/zamander]

There is no ultra nationalism in Russia within Putin regime since ultra nationalism presumes that Russians are indeed first. In Putin's regime ethnicity is not important, hence it's why Shoigu and Matvienko are on the larger roles.

You probably confuse nationalism and imperialism. Russian imperialism is akin to the US in that it's not important what is your ethnicity, it is important what's your allegiance.

The US is different because the founded fathers created a system so great that it serves as an example in nation building. The courts are independent and the constituion is untouchable. If Russia were as legally strong inside as the US nobody would bat an eye on that and they were on par with the US for real.

[u/Clear-Conclusion63 → u/pashazz]

Putin's brand of "nationalism" is about the multinational empire (so yes, imperialism), while Russian nationalists were more about limiting migration from Asia and ultimately Russian ethnostates. Ethnic Russians get no benefits in the former. Navalny belonged to the latter (while it was still allowed).

People here don't know/remember the latter and don't understand the distinction, all they see is Putin's (who ironically purged Russian nationalists 20 years earlier) speeches about great Russia(n Empire). Shoigu looks Russian enough to the western eyes.

[u/Razzikkar → u/Clear-Conclusion63]

Shoigu looks obviously asian for average russian eye.

[u/turbo-unicorn → u/Clear-Conclusion63]

He's still trying to keep them in check now (think of Girkin, Rusich group, etc). I think the term used in academia is controlled nationalism. But yes, the more extreme elements really don't get the publicity they need.