Richard Arnold
Richard Arnold, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Muskingum University, where he teaches classes on Comparative Politics and International Relations. Dr. Arnold’s research focuses on xenophobic extremism in the Russian Federation and he has published papers in Nationalities Papers and Problems of Post-Communism on the Russian Neo-Nazi movement. He is also interested in Russian security more generally, including secessionism and radical Islam in the North Caucasus. Dr. Arnold is guest-editor of the January/February 2014 edition of Problems of Post Communism, which focuses on the Sochi Winter Olympics. He is also writing a piece on Alexei Navalny for the publisher Routledge.
Contact Richard Arnold
Articles by Richard Arnold
FSB Inflates Its Role in Combating Terrorism
Investigative reporting by the veteran liberal newspaper Novaya Gazeta has found that the Russian state security services, in particular the Federal Security Service (FSB), may be misreporting and inflating the
A Spectrum of Threats Risks Disrupting This Year’s World Cup in Russia
This year’s FIFA soccer World Cup championship is being hosted by the Russian Federation, between June 14 and July 15. The quadrennial tournament will be held in eleven Russian cities,
Russia Invites Fringe European Politicians to ‘Observe’ Upcoming Presidential Election
Russia is well-known for having connections to the political far right in Europe, but its links to the European far left are just as firmly established. This was affirmed once
Navalny Launches ‘Voters’ Strikes’ Across Russia
On Sunday, January 28, demonstrations and protests organized by Alexei Navalny shook Russia once again, this time calling for what he has called “Voters’ strike” protests. While Navalny’s website claims
Russian Truckers Declared ‘Foreign Agents’
Following an inspection by the Ministry of Justice, the Russian truckers organization Association of Russian Carriers (Obedinenie Perevozchikov Rossii—OPR) has been declared a “foreign agent.” The organization was originally formed
Russian March 2017: Smaller Than in Years Past, but More Likely to Attract Youth
The annual “Russian March” on November 4 (National Unity Day) has become a rallying point for the nationalist opposition to the regime. And this year, the event took on special
Navalny Organizes Another Round of Protests Against Putin
Ostensibly to celebrate Vladimir Putin’s birthday on Saturday, October 7, supporters of the detained opposition politician and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny and his staff organized protests across Russia, calling on
Liberals and Extreme Nationalists Unite Once More in Russia
May 6 saw a protest on Moscow’s Sakharov Prospekt under the banner “against political repression.” The march was unremarkable except for the fact that it indicated the apparent decisive reuniting
Young Gunman With Neo-Nazi Affiliation Highlights Threats to Russian State
An underage gunman with links to Russian neo-Nazi groups burst into a Federal Security Service (FSB) building in Khabarovsk, on April 21, and opened fire. According to the FSB’s public
New Mass Protests Materialize Against Putin
In the largest revival since the wave of “white ribbon” street demonstrations of 2011–2012, protests against the Russian government erupted again on Sunday, March 26, 2017. Actions took place in
Kuban Corruption Case Could Presage New Source of Legitimacy for Kremlin
One news story has been dominating headlines in Russia’s Krasnodar region (also known as Kuban, after the main river) for weeks: that of the alleged embezzlement of funds originally designated
Far-Right Leader Dmitry Demushkin Arrested Ahead of Upcoming ‘Russian March’
The former leader of the now-banned “Russians” opposition movement as well as the outlawed skinhead gang Slavic Union (Slavianskii Soiuz), Dmitry Demushkin, was placed under house arrest by the Russian
Angry Krasnodar Farmers Write Open Letter to Putin
The saga continues for farmers in Krasnodar protesting corruption in their region and the unfair distribution of land. The farmers originally planned to caravan to Moscow but were intercepted by
Social Protests in Russia Repeatedly Force Kremlin to Respond
While Russia’s economic woes are usually blamed on a combination of Western sanctions and falling global oil prices, it is worth remembering that some of the country’s economic wounds are
Social Protests in Russia Repeatedly Force Kremlin to Respond
While Russia’s economic woes are usually blamed on a combination of Western sanctions and falling global oil prices, it is worth remembering that some of the country’s economic wounds are
Legal Case in Chelyabinsk Raises Specter of Regional Separatism in Russia
As more and more low-level or hushed-up evidence makes clear, the Kremlin’s Ukraine gambit may have serious, unexpected domestic ramifications for the Russian Federation, such as increasing the likelihood of
Cooptation and Repression: The Kremlin’s Approach Russian Nationalists
The now-annual extreme-nationalist “Russian March” in Lublino (a working-class district in Moscow, populated mostly by ethnic Slavs), on November 4—National Unity Day—saw a sharply reduced number of marchers this year.
Belov and the Government’s Ban of ‘the Russians’
A new milestone has passed in the trial of Alexander Belov, the outspoken former leader of the ultra-right Movement Against Illegal Immigration (DPNI) and a current member of the coordinating
Tatarstani Cossacks Enter Government Service
Although not commonly associated with the Cossacks, the city of Kazan (in the ethnic republic of Tatarstan, historically a Muslim region) played host, in mid-June, to a meeting of the
Putin or Bust: Relations of Russian Cossacks With the Kremlin
Cossacks in St. Peterbsurg recently unveiled a bust of President Vladimir Putin in the guise of a Roman emperor (Gazeta.ru, May 17). The bust, made from synthetic materials, was originally
Racism in Russia and the 2018 World Cup
Adolf Hitler’s birthday, April 20, is traditionally a time when the Russian Far Right (along with extremist organizations all over the world) “celebrate” by attacking those who are ethnically and
Propaganda Theater and the Anti-Maidan Rally in Moscow
An estimated 32,000 people turned out for an “anti-Maidan” rally in Moscow on Saturday, February 21. The Russian march, condemning the Ukrainian government and its war in the country’s east,
Verdict in Navalny Trial Attracts Some Far-Right Nationalist Support
The much-anticipated verdict of Russian opposition blogger Aleksei Navalny, was unexpectedly moved up from its scheduled reading date of January 15, 2015, and was instead read on December 30, 2014,
Russian Lawmakers Introduce New Repressive Legislation
Russia has introduced or is planning a series of new repressive legislative acts. First, lawmakers have prepared amendments to a bill that will define as “undesirable” any foreign or international
Russia Holds First ‘Unity Day’ Celebrations in Annexed Crimea
Since the Russian government instituted a new holiday in 2005, ostensibly to promote patriotism and celebrate the 1612 liberation of Moscow from Polish forces, nationalists have commandeered this “Unity Day”
Planned Voter Suppression in 2014 Regional Elections
Amid the continuous stream of news coming out of eastern Ukraine—not least the post-modern invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces—the upcoming regional elections in Russia have largely escaped notice. Elections
More European Far Right Conferences in Russia
One of the consequences of the Kremlin’s adventurism in Ukraine appears to have been an invigoration of European Far Right parties that sense an opportunity to orient themselves toward Moscow
Cossacks Distribute Aid in Rostov Oblast
As thousands of refugees from Ukraine’s far-eastern Donbas region continue to pour into Russia’s Rostov Oblast (see EDM, June 30), the need for humanitarian aid is intense. One social group
Domestic Pressure on Putin to Intervene in Ukraine Mounts
While the dominant narrative in the West is that President Vladimir Putin is personally responsible for the crisis in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donbas and seeks to use it to
The Involvement of Russian Ultra-Nationalists in the Donbas Conflict
Several cities in Donbas, the eastern portion of Ukraine comprising the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, have been embroiled in Russian-sponsored secessionist violence against Ukrainian authorities since early April 2014.
Russia Forces Crimea to Switch From Hryvna to Ruble Ahead of Schedule
Amongst the many complexities of integrating Crimea into Russia, problems regarding the currency and the scheduling of local elections remain at the top. On May 14, the lower house of
Crimean Events Bolster Russian Neo-Nazis
The eyes of the world—especially those of analysts in the West—have been trained on the ongoing situation in Ukraine, but the situation inside Russia also shows signs of being affected
In Response to Ukraine, Russian Domestic Repression Increases
While television has mostly been state-controlled for a long time in Russia, newspapers and Internet media have remained relatively free. That relative freedom appears to be one of the first
Race Riots and Extremist Demonstrations Occur With Increasing Frequency in Russia
According to Moscow’s SOVA Center for Information and Analysis, radical Russian nationalists tried to arrange several more skhods (translated as “people’s gatherings”—generally involving street marches and demonstrations) in January 2014,
Non-Traditional Threats to Sochi
The recent warning from the US State Department not to wear patriotic clothing outside of the “ring of steel” in Sochi proper might have been thought to forestall an attack
Non-Traditional Threats to Sochi
The recent warning from the US State Department not to wear patriotic clothing outside of the “ring of steel” in Sochi proper might have been thought to forestall an attack
Nationalist Reaction to Volgograd Bombings
In the wake of the late-December 2013 double bombings in Volgograd (see EDM, January 6), the attention of most analysts has rightly been on the threat posed to the Sochi
The ‘Russian March’ in 2013
Tensions are high in Russia over the upcoming “Russian March,” which has taken place annually on November 4—“Unity Day”—since 2005, when it was first instigated by nationalists and neo-Nazis. The
Russian Neo-Nazis Organize Rally in Moscow
The “Russkie” organization, which emerged out of the 2011–2012 protest movement against the ruling United Russia party and now-President Vladimir Putin, organized a rally on September 14 to protest the
Holding Camp for Illegal Immigrants Hastily Opens in Moscow
On August 1, Russian police raided the “Sadoved” market in the Kapotny region of Moscow and arrested close to 1,000 people, primarily Vietnamese traders who were in the country illegally.
Navalny and the Moscow Mayoral Election
The announcement by Vladimir Tor, the leader of the unregistered far-right National Democratic Party (NDP), that he will support anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny in the election for Moscow mayor (http://lenta.ru/news/2013/06/20/navalny/)
The Composition of Putin’s Popular Front
Earlier this month, on the official June 12 “Russia Day” holiday, President Vladimir Putin was nominated leader of the Popular Front. The Front was established in 2011 to supplement the
Russian Neo-Nazis ‘Celebrate’ Hitler’s Birthday, Part Two: April 20, 2013
Adolf Hitler’s birthday, traditionally a concern for authorities determined to prevent racist violence in Russia (see Part One of this two-part article in EDM, April 15), appears to have passed
Russian Neo-Nazis ‘Celebrate’ Hitler’s Birthday, Part One: Background
Like Neo-Nazis in other countries, Russia’s own Neo-Nazi subculture commemorates the birthday of Adolf Hitler on April 20. What is distinct, however, is the degree to which Russia’s Neo-Nazis “celebrate”
Inadequate Professionalism in the Police Forces Remains a Problem for the Russian State
New recruits to the Russian police will soon undergo mandatory polygraph tests in order to gain admission to the force. The requirement, introduced in June 2012 as part of a
Jamestown’s Richard Arnold cited by Origo
Jamestown analyst Richard Arnold was cited in an article published by Origo about the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Russian Duma Backtracks on Direct Regional Elections
United Russia brought a bill before the Duma for a first reading on January 23, 2013, that would permit regional legislatures to cancel direct gubernatorial elections for the “multi-ethnic” regions
Two Inter-Ethnic Murders in Moscow Region Illustrate Threat of Racism
Neo-Nazi and extremist nationalist gangs have been operating in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union, but two separate attacks in the Moscow region demonstrate the rising power of
Presidential Council on Inter-Ethnic Relations Meets in Saransk
On August 24, in the ethnic republic of Mordavia, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the recently re-instituted “Council for Inter-Ethnic Relations.” The Council, which Putin had dissolved in 2001,
FSB Foils Attempted Assault on 2014 Winter Olympics
With the world’s attention on London in the run-up to the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, it is important to bear in mind that the next Olympics in 2014 will be
Is Russia Stable Without Putin?
Russian nationalists have been one of the main groups participating in the protests against the fraudulent elections of December 4, 2011. Among their number are more extreme nationalists or neo-Nazis