A “Russian March” with relics and prayers for Putin. Four major religious processions involving the far right took place in Russia in one week

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A “Russian March” with relics and prayers for Putin. In one week in Russia, four major religious processions took place with the participation of the far right

From September 6 to 12, religious processions were held in Moscow, Irkutsk, Elista and St. Petersburg, drawing more than 200,000 people according to official figures. Far-right and nationalist organizations played a noticeable role in promoting the processions and mobilizing participants.

Tsargrad, owned by billionaire and sponsor of the invasion of Ukraine Konstantin Malofeev, directly called the Moscow procession a “nationwide ‘Russian March.’” Malofeev’s structures and the far-right Russian Community organized their own columns in advance and urged supporters to take part in the processions.

At the same time, the religious processions are taking place with support from the authorities, including financial support, while the Russian Orthodox Church openly links these marches to support for Putin and the war: at the Moscow procession, Patriarch Kirill urged people to pray “for our Orthodox president and for our army.”

How the far right embedded itself in mass religious processions, which officials backed them, and how church rhetoric began justifying the war — read in The Insider’s story.

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The Insider

A “Russian March” with relics and prayers for Putin. Four major religious processions involving the far right took place in Russia in one week

From September 6 to 12, religious processions were held in Moscow, Irkutsk, Elista and St. Petersburg, drawing more than 200,000 people according to official figures. A noticeable role…