Defending Russia: A film by Irina Sedunova

Dmitry Bakharev is not just a lawyer, he is also the head of Oprichnik, a nationalist organization named after the secret police of 16th-century Czar, Ivan the Terrible.

“The idea that we promote is clear, being a Russian means being a warrior,” says Bakharev, who is training the group’s members to fight for Russia in future armed conflicts.

“There might be a war in five, 10, or 30 years, so either you’re getting ready for it or you are training others,” he says.

Defending Russia explores what it means to be a nationalist in Russia at a time when globalization is blurring the lines between countries.

“The problem is not that people of other nations exist, the problem is that people forgot their roots and traditions. They aren’t ready to fight for their traditions and families,” explains Bakharev.

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