Russians in the Former Soviet RepublicsThe resurgence of Russian nationalism, exemplified by the electoral success of Vladimir Zhirinovsky's Liberal Democratic Party, is driven by support from the 25 million Russians now outside the boundaries of Russia proper since the break-up of the USSR in 1989. They are subjects of states where the majority population is ethnically, linguistically and often denominationally different from themselves; many feel beleaguered and threatened, and are turning to extremists of every hue in an attempt to secure their future. Their fate is closely linked to that of the Russian armed forces, elements of which have lent clandestine military support to Russian minorities in the civil wars in Moldova and Georgia. |
