Richard Arnold
Richard Arnold teaches at Muskingum University and is a member of the PONARS network. He is the author of Russian Nationalism and Ethnic Violence: Symbolic Violence, Lynching, Pogrom, and Massacre (Routledge, 2016) and the editor of Russia and the 2018 FIFA World Cup (Routledge, 2021). He has written numerous articles on Russia, including in Problems of Post-Communism, Theoretical Criminology, and Post-Soviet Affairs. His current interests are the connections between sport and politics, Cossack movements in Russia and Ukraine, and far-right activity in Russia.
In spring 2022, Arnold won a Fulbright award to teach and conduct research in Poland. He will spend the 2022-2023 academic year in Poland conducting research on Ukrainian Cossack formations and the importance of the Cossack archetype to Ukrainian national identity as well as working with Ukrainian refugees and Polish institutions.
Contact Richard Arnold
Articles by Richard Arnold
Russian National Unity Day Against the Backdrop of the War in Ukraine
One of the new holidays introduced by the Kremlin, which was invented in response to the alleged impending threat of a color revolution within the country, Russian National Unity Day,
The Ghosts of ‘Taras Bul’ba’
A recently completed investigation demonstrates that the main goal of the Russian-forced re-location of Ukrainian children to Russia is so they can be raised to value their “true” heritage, which
300,000 Young People in Cossack Education
With the coming of the new academic year in Russia, the Cossack movement celebrated its achievements in enrolling so many young people in their education institutions; “300,000 young Cossacks” are
School Shooting in Izhevsk: A Specter of Further Anti-State Violence in Russia?
Set against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, school shootings in Russia—such as the one that took place in Izhevsk and claimed the lives of 15 people (11 children
Russian Cossacks’ Integration With the State
As Russia’s illegal re-invasion of Ukraine continues, a number of ramifications extend to the Russian domestic political scene with some, such as Yale University historian Timothy Snyder, positing on the
Cossack Education Policy: Ideological Indoctrination
Much has been written about Cossack organizations fighting in Ukraine (see EDM, July 25, June 28, April 25, March 30, March 2) and fulfilling ideological roles in Russian society (see
Caught in Conflict: Ahiska Turks and the Russo-Ukrainian War
One of the seemingly forgotten but oft-victimized casualties of the Russo-Ukrainian war has been the Ahiska Turk minority residing in Ukraine and Russia alike. The Ahiskas, also known as Meskhetians,
Russia’s Increasing Use of Cossack Reservists Highlights Manpower Shortage
As the Kremlin’s ill-planned re-invasion of Ukraine wears on, much speculation has hinted at Russia’s manpower and other resources being depleted and wasted on the battlefield. One indicator that lends
Cossacks: Avatars of Religious Nationalism
Russia’s re-invasion of Ukraine is over four months old at this point, and the Cossacks have played a role in ostensibly sanctifying the ongoing conflict. The narrative of the war
The Russian Far Right and the War in Ukraine
The Russian Far Right is heavily divided on both the pretext and the present course of the Kremlin’s large-scale war against Ukraine, yet this split is weighted in favor of
Jamestown Analyst Richard Arnold Interviewed by VoA on Russian Cossacks in the Russo-Ukrainian War
On May 19, Voice of America posted an interview with Dr. Richard Arnold on the topic of Russian Cossacks' involvement in the war against Ukraine.
Russia’s Cossacks: ‘Fighters’ Versus ‘Cheerleaders’
Moscow may be drawing most of its conscripts for the war in Ukraine from ethnic minority regions such as Buryatia and Dagestan (see EDM, May 4), but there appears to
Cossacks and the Battle for Donbas
Given the ostensible ties of Cossacks to the Don region, one might reasonably expect Russia’s state-organized Cossack movement to play a significant role in the battle for Ukrainian Donbas. And
Russian Cossacks and the Continuation of the War in Ukraine
As the Kremlin’s unprovoked large-scale war against Ukraine continues, the Russian Armed Forces are reportedly experiencing chronic supply and troop shortages. And now, evidence is growing that the military has
The Role of Cossacks in the Re-Invasion of Ukraine
In Russia’s aggressive and unprovoked war against Ukraine, much of the global attention has understandably focused on the actions of the regular Armed Forces; but the Russian Cossacks are also
PolitiFact Quotes Jamestown Analyst Richard Arnold on Putin’s One-Sided History of Ukraine
Om February 23, Politifact quoted Jamestown Foundation analyst regarding his perspective on Putin's cherry-picked and one-sided historical interpretation of Ukraine. The Cossack influence in Ukraine lives on today in the
As Ukraine Crisis Simmers, Russian Cossack Movement Tightens Integration With Military Reserves
The ataman (head) of the “All-Russian Cossack Society,” Nikolai Doluda, addressed a meeting of the Atamans’ Council, in Krasnodar Krai, on February 4, and instructed those gathered that “the time
Dikoe Pole Cossacks in Occupied Luhansk: Russian Aides de Guerre?
Amidst the Russian military buildup on the border with Ukraine and speculation about whether the Kremlin will, indeed, again invade (see EDM, January 18, 20, 27), the analytical discussion has
Anti-Migrant Rally in Buzhaninovo Raises Specter of Dangerous Russian Nationalism
On September 13, more than 300 individuals gathered for a “people’s meeting,” or skhod, outside a dormitory for migrant workers in the Moscow Oblast town of Buzhaninovo, near Sergiev Posad.
Putin Expresses Support for Cossack Battalion in Russian National Guard
In a further sign of the rising importance of Cossack neo-imperial structures in Russia’s current political system, apparently President Vladimir Putin recently expressed support for the idea of creating Cossack
All Russian Cossacks Increasingly Resemble Krasnodar Movement
The Russian Cossack movement is emerging as one of the key social pillars supporting the regime, and increasingly it is taking on the mold of Kuban Cossackdom, found in the
Analyst Richard Arnold Interviewed by Vice About Self-Censorship in Russia
Russia expert Richard Arnold was interviewed in a February 25 story for Vice News regarding conscious self-censorship by Russian sports stars and public figures to avoid falling afoul of the
Growing Presence of Cossacks in 2021
The role of Cossack organizations in Russian life will likely grow in 2021, as last month’s Presidential Council for Cossack Affairs (PCCA) meeting demonstrated. The council’s deputy chairman and presidential
Russian Extreme Nationalists Rally Across Country in Midst of Pandemic
The annual “Russian March”—an attempt by extreme nationalist forces to appropriate Russia’s National Unity Day (November 4)—has routinely provided a suggestive measure of the evolving strength of the radical-right opposition
Belarusian Cossacks—An Option for Putin?
Due to certain superficial similarities between the ongoing post-election demonstrations in Belarus and the EuroMaidan protests in Kyiv in 2013–2014, some commentators have speculated about the possibility of “another Crimea”
Northern Ukraine’s Vulnerable Sumy Oblast: Covert Russian Links and Cossack Threats
With Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings taking a massive hit as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic, resulting economic crisis and his government’s bungled response, the Kremlin is
Russian Special Services Employ Cossacks, Ukrainian Religious Institutions Against Kyiv
For as long as official cases of COVID-19 have remained manageable inside the Russian Federation, Moscow was able to exploit the global coronavirus pandemic to try to pursue various foreign
Russia’s Cossacks Battle Coronavirus and Promote Kremlin’s Foreign Policy
As fears of the COVID-19 pandemic grip much of Russia, the country’s Cossacks have been enlisted to help contain the deadly virus. In the city of Ekaterinburg, Ataman Gennady Kovalev
Violent Extreme-Right Movement Attracts New Generation of Russian Youth
Hate crimes in Russia have decreased significantly since 2009–2010, reaching levels similar to Western countries in the later part of the 2010s (Sova-center.ru, accessed February 9). However, a recent report
Kalmyks Angry at Use of Their Republic to Bolster Donbas Separatism
On October 27, several thousand gathered in downtown Elista, the capital of Russia’s Buddhist republic of Kalmykia, to protest the appointment of Dmitry Trapeznikov as mayor of the city. Trapeznikov
Kalmyks Protest Donbas Separatist Who Was Appointed Mayor of Republican Capital
Street protests continue against the leader of the Buddhist province of Kalmykia and look set to escalate, with a large demonstration planned for October 27. The protests concern the appointment
Russian-Backed Luhansk Authorities Enlist Help of Local Cossacks
The authorities of the self-declared Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) are apparently seeking to extend their control over society in this Russian-occupied and Moscow-backed eastern Ukrainian region. As one notable sign
Ukrainian Security Services Arrest Pro-Russia Cossack Cell in Odesa
On May 28, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) arrested three Ukrainian citizens who staged an explosion in the lobby of a resort hotel in the major Black Sea port
Increase in Crimes Against Foreigners Has Russian Authorities Worried
A recent Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) report entitled, “The Composition of Crimes in Russia for January to March 2019” revealed that the number of crimes committed against foreigners
Radicalization of Russian Youth on the Rise
Last year’s October 31 bombing of an Arkhangelsk Federal Security Service (FSB) office (see EDM, November 9, 2018) triggered an investigation, which recently released its final report. The conclusions of
Ongoing Environmental Protests in Russia Pose Threat to Kremlin in 2019
Last year saw a “trash crisis” in Russia, with multiple protests connected to corruption in the garbage collection industry (see EDM, March 12, 2018). The crisis is partially a consequence
Bombing of Arkhangelsk FSB Office and Rise of Youth Extremism in Modern Russia
At 8:52 in the morning, on October 31, a 17-year old student and self-described anarchist at the local college walked into the Archangelsk field office of the Russian Federal Security
The ‘Russian Columbine’ Shooting in Crimea Highlights Youth Radicalization, Proliferation of Firearms
On October 17, 18-year-old student Vladislav Roslyakov walked into his polytechnic school in the Russian-occupied Crimean town of Kerch, ascended to the second floor of the building and opened fire
Ukraine Eliminating Communist-Era Legacy Names in Dnipropetrovsk
Since the 2014 EuroMaidan revolution, a series of “de-Communization” efforts have been taking place in Ukrainian regions and cities across the country. One of the main streets in the resort
Cossacks at the 2018 World Cup: Law and Disorder?
After “neo-Cossacks” brutally whipped anti-Kremlin demonstrators at the May 5 “He Is Not Our Tsar” protests, in downtown Moscow (see EDM, May 14), concerns in Russia have been mounting that
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