Svetlaya Rus
Russian nationalist movement
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Svetlaya Rus (Russian: Светлая Русь, lit. 'Bright Rus') is a Russian nationalist movement, founded in 2009 by Russian nationalist mercenary Igor Mangushev (1986–2023).
Name
Svetlaya Rus translates as "Bright Rus'" or "Light-Skinned Rus'" in English, and is synonymous with a "mono-ethnic, neo-pagan technocratic nation state."[1]
History and activities
Svetlaya Rus is a Russian militia movement[2] founded in 2009 by Russian nationalist mercenary Igor Mangushev.[3][4] Membership in the group was initially drawn from the Russian Orthodox Church-aligned Narodny Sobor movement, as well as various Russian patriotic movements.[5] Several members in the group were former law enforcement officials or had otherwise become connected with Russia's Federal Migration Service.[6]: 132
The initial activity of the organisation was a December 30, 2009 rally for recently murdered priest Daniil Sysoev.[3] Soon after, the organisation started identifying undocumented Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan migrants to the police.[3][7] In 2011, the organisation raided Krasnaya Presnya residences in search of migrants.[3][7] As the Russo-Ukrainian War started, Svetlaya Rus organised pro-Russian events in Crimea.[3]