Emerging nexus of far-right movements gains visibility in St. Petersburg

By Harsh Thakor*

A meeting of several nationalist, far-right, and neo-Nazi organisations was held in St. Petersburg, Russia, on September 12 under the code name “Paladín.” The event served as the founding congress of a body calling itself the “International Union of Enemies of Globalization” or the “International Union of Sovereign Nations.” Around twenty organisations from different countries reportedly took part.

Among the groups named were the Falange Española de las JONS from Spain, Les Nationalistes from France, and the Sixty-Four Counties Youth Movement from Hungary, along with far-right groups from Germany, Serbia, Italy, and Brazil. Participants included Robert Rischs, a regional deputy of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), and Alexander von Bismarck, a former member of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Greece’s Golden Dawn, which has been convicted for criminal activities, was also represented.

Reports indicate that officials connected to the Russian government were present, including Konstantin Chebikin, a deputy of the ruling United Russia party, and Alexander Belsky, president of the party’s parliamentary group in the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly. One of the key organisers was businessman Konstantin Malofeyev, known for his ties to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The event drew ideological inspiration from Aleksandr Dugin, a nationalist thinker associated with “Eurasianism,” which blends elements of mysticism, nationalism, and anti-globalism. The name “Paladín” itself references medieval knights of Charlemagne and a neo-fascist network from the 1970s reportedly linked to Nazi officer Otto Skorzeny.

The St. Petersburg gathering has been viewed by observers as an attempt to formalise transnational cooperation among far-right movements, some of which are seen as having links to state or corporate interests. Analysts suggest the event reflects the continuing presence and coordination of far-right and ultranationalist networks across countries.

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*Freelance journalist

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