Nationalists' torchlight procession held in Volgograd

In the evening of December 11, a torchlight procession of nationalists was held in Volgograd. The action was dedicated to the anniversary of the events in Manege Square in Moscow after the murder of Yegor Sviridov, a football fan. Young people formed the main part of the procession participants.

At 6:.00 p.m. the column of nationalists holding torches, flags and banners in their hands, started its way from Pavshikh Bortsov (Fallen Fighters) Square. Female drummers were at the forefront of the procession.

Policemen and members of the Cossack fighters of Volgograd followed the procession along the perimeter of the column.

"With our torchlight procession, we mark the anniversary of events that took place in Manege Square a year ago," told Stanislav Terentyev, co-Chairman of the Union of Russian People, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Kolokol" (Bell), the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "We protest against ethnic criminality, and we want Russia to become the state of the Russian people."

Artyom Brykin, ex-coordinator of the prohibited movement DPNI (Movement Against Illegal Immigration), stated that he participated in the procession as an individual. He expressed his protest with regard to the elections to the State Duma conducted on December 4. The activist called them falsified.

When asked whether he treated a torchlight procession as the symbol of German fascism, Artyom Brykin answered that similar processions were conducted in the USSR. "It's a spectacular, interesting event. Conducting it, we just intend to break that stereotype," stated Artyom Brykin.

"All that is happening here is disgusting," said Victoria Khlystunova, who watched the torchlight procession from aside. "This is a real chauvinism. Russia is the multinational state. Such actions should not be conducted at our place."

"You should pay your attention to the fact that 99 percent of participants of the torchlight procession are young people of 14-20 years old. This is a clear sign of the failure of the national and youth policy of our authorities - city, regional, and federal authorities," said Andrei Bachman, an activist of the anti-fascist movement of Volgograd. "I always attend such processions and try to convince people under delusion. Officials should actually do that; however, they are not here."

"At present, to find a job for a young man in Volgograd and region is difficult. And then there are people who say that guest workers and Caucasians are guilty of that. Those provocateurs give very simple answers to difficult questions," said Andrei Bachman.

At the same time, participants of the procession do not identify themselves with fascism. Almost all of them spoke of "a healthy nationalism, which the society needs."

The participants of the torchlight procession followed Alleya Geroyev (Alley of Heroes), marched along Chuikov and Krasnoznamenskaya Streets. The action ended with a small rally in Pavshikh Bortsov (Fallen Fighters) Square. Nationalists were chanting the slogans: "Russians, forward!", "Russian city of Volgograd", "Freedom to Russian people in their country!", "One for all and all for one". Some activists shouted slogans insulting the Caucasian peoples.