“I dream with courage and scope,” said Nikolai Malinov, newly elected president of the International Russophile Movement founding congress. The movement is dedicated to promoting Russian culture abroad, resisting Russophobia and fighting against anti-Russian sanctions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Businesman and Chairman of the Tsargrad Society Konstantin Malofeev, leader of the Bulgarian Rusophile movement Nikolai Malinov, philosopher Alexander Dugin, actor Steven Seagal and others participated in the event.
Russian political scientist and president of the Foundation for Historical Perspective Natalia Narochnitskaya said that such a movement should have been created many years ago. Russia has been attacked by Western elites for many years, and all the sound pro-Russian forces that see Russia as a bulwark of traditional values, are trying to resist this aggression.
The Bulgarian Rusophiles movement celebrated its 20th anniversary on March 18, 2023. Its permanent leader and inspirer is Bulgarian politician and public figure Nikolay Malinov. He has proposed to launch an international movement of the same name, and his idea was supported on the highest level. President Vladimir Putin, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko sent their greetings to congress participants from 42 countries.
Cooperation and friendship are the main goals
Speaking to the congress, Sergey Lavrov explained the main difference between the unification efforts undertaken by Russia and the actions of Western “partners":
- We are never friends with someone against someone... We do not force anyone to take this or that position. The countries of the global South, which are the world majority are able to come to their own conclusions... Our Western counterparts publicly demand that everyone, including the countries representing the oldest great civilizations, carry out their orders.
Western civilization, obsessed with its exclusivity, and its greatness, is fighting tooth and nail to keep the elusive domination on the world stage. This passion for hegemony pervades the entire history of the West for centuries. It is very difficult for them to accept the new objective reality now, but they will have to do so. Resistance from the rest of the world is seen by Western leaders as a challenge to their hegemony, a challenge to the values they are rudely trying to implement... Of course, the hybrid war unleashed against Russia aims to demonize our country in the eyes of the world community, to accuse it of all the deadly sins. I consider the initiative of Nikolay Malinov and his friends to create the International Russophile Movement as a legitimate right to defend its interests. The purpose of the movement is being created today is to promote cooperation, interaction, and friendship.
The Movement for Our Own Sovereignty
Konstantin Malofeev also spoke about the right to be oneself, preserving faith and traditions. He noted the special role of the Russian Orthodox Church in establishing and maintaining a dialogue with representatives of other religions and cultures.
At the same time, he drew some sad parallels with Europe's recent past:
- There is an unprecedented wave of xenophobia and racism in the world today. The last time such wave occurred was 80 years ago in Nazi Germany. Fascism flourished in other European countries as well. After the victorious end of that war by the Russian soldier in Berlin, there was no such hatred in the world. When we talk about that war, we also remember anti-Semitism. Today we are talking about the same level of Russophobia in the West. And we understand that this is about the globalist elite, not the peoples. The international movement of Russophiles is a movement for their own sovereignty, their own traditions. The countries of the global South and East see this and, following Russia’s footsteps, also raise their flag of sovereignty high. Russophiles are those who love Russians because they reflect their dreams of independence and freedom.
The representative of Senegal said that not the whole world is sick with Russophobia. It is a virus that has affected only the Western countries elites. It has not affected ordinary people in Europe, as well as in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where the help and support of the Soviet Union is well remembered.
Important partnership with Russia
Pierre de Gaulle, the grandson of a famous French general and president, was among the most important participants of the new movement. As a representative of Europe's conservative intellectual elite, he spoke about his vision of the goals:
- Throughout his life, de Gaulle defended the need for a partnership with Russia, which could give the stability guarantee not only in Europe, but also in the world. The current crisis provoked by NATO and benefiting Washington, the personal ambitions of European leaders will not destroy the idea of mutual partnership and friendship between France and Russia. Current conflicts represent ideological conflicts in defense of our traditional values, family, religion. The neoliberal model, based on the cult of pleasure and excessive consumption, has corrupted the modern society, which provoked serious economic crises. Western sensible public opposes this model.
These words were confirmed by the speeches of congress participants from different countries. The Israel representative told that his group of the like-minded people has carried out 22 actions in support of Russia, 8 large concerts of the Russian artists were organized in 2022. According to the Slovakia participant, his compatriots' discussions on Russia in city cafes were comparable with silmilar arguments in French clubs a century ago. He has mentioned that over past eight years 40 countries have created clubs of friends of Crimea to counteract the U.S. and EU sanctions pressure.
The Gift of Love
Political philosopher, analyst, and strategist Alexandr Dugin summed up the philosophical doctrine of the International Russophile Movement by explaining why, of the many possibilities, people around the world choose love for Russia:
- They know and love us more than we do ourselves. And this love they have for our great culture, our heroes and thinkers. We, too, try to match this love, we want to become Russians you can love. Love is not a bargain. Therefore, our movement cannot be seen as just another international instrument of Russia. It must be seen as a gift in Marcel Mauss's essay, which formed the basis for the social theories of reciprocal exchange and the gift economy. A gift that never has any price, because it is always greater than any price. So we treat our movement as a gift, when people come and give us their attention, their presence, their wishes. And we reimburse with the gift, too: the gift of attention, gratitude and mutual love. This is the alternative civilization that we have to build.
During the second part of the Congress the participants chose the Executive Committee of the International Rusophile Movement from among the representatives of 21 countries, which will have to work out the charter documents, and a strategic plan of the main directions. In Nikolai Malinov's opinion, first of all the movement must deal with the development and support of the Russian language and culture. For example, it’s possible to create Intervision as an antipode of Eurovision, with the participation of traditional entertainers, who will be evaluated not for their extravagant appearance and gender, but for the skill of singing and the quality of music. "A child is born, next, our task is to raise it," said Nikolai Malinov as the conclusion.
