Radical Right Forces of Europe as an Instrument of “Putin’s Doctrine” Realization

Developments over the last few months certify that Putin’s leadership aims not only at establishing control over a part of the former USSR territory, but also at destructing European order that shaped after the end of the cold war. The first goal for Russia is to create institutional and ideological premises to obstruct implementation of effective sanctions, first of all economic, after annexation of the Crimea and beginning of terrorist war against Ukraine. Strategically, Kremlin considers possibilities to increase its influence on the process of key decision making within the framework of European institutions, particularly, on the development of consolidated policy of the EU countries concerning the post-soviet space.

In both cases, Russian leadership requires control over relevant structures among the acting subjects of European political process, which are a part of national political spectrum and participate in transnational institutions. In the first place, these are political forces of radical trend that in their ideology prejudice or reject basic liberal values seemingly striving for return to European conservative traditions. Loyalty of these political forces to Russia and personally Vladimir Putin is explained by his hostility to homosexualism and adherence to traditional values as opposed to “perverse” Europe. Some right forces support Moscow due to traditional geopolitical considerations as a counterbalance to the US influence.

Favorable conditions for realization of Russia’s plan have appeared in the process of election to European Parliament in April-May this year that went on the general background of increasing conservative and isolationist moods on the continent. This sentiment has caused essential representation of radical right parties in the European Parliament. Russian leadership has made significant efforts to consolidate recently marginal political forces for the sake of creating a pro-Russian faction in the new Parliament. According to experts, its number may reach 38 members. In the opinion of Moscow, this may secure the country from implementation of effective political and economic sanctions by European countries, on the one hand, and allow affecting European Parliament’s decisions in strategic issues, on the other hand.

The first attempt to consolidate anti-democratic forces was made by inviting representatives of Hungarian Jobbik, French National Front, Austrian Party of Liberty, Belgian Flemish Interest, Bulgarian Attack, and Italian Northern League to take part in the so-called referendum in the Crimea as observers. With the help of political allies, Russian leadership attempted to give legitimate character to the annexation of the Crimea and Sebastopol.

In April 2014, Russian Ambassador to the EU Chizhov had a private meeting with representatives of radical right political parties, where among other questions there was considered a possibility of Russia to sponsor their electoral campaigns. There was also made a decision on the prospect to create a faction under the leadership of French National Front and to form association of radical right parties of Russia and Europe. The next step in consolidation will be Russian National Forum planned for October 4-5, 2014 to engage Hungarian Jobbik, Greek Golden Dawn and Austrian Liberty, where it is intended to adopt national doctrine of Europe and create coordination committee. This certifies that Russian Federation is attempting to become the center of right conservative forces of Europe proposing anti-liberal platform under the guise of return to traditional European values.

The endeavor to establish control over representatives of European political spectrum (though marginal) is a part of the new foreign policy doctrine of Putin and actually the only means of enhancing the status of Russia at least on the regional level. The matter is that Russian leadership has a rather narrow field of maneuver taking into account reducing interaction with Europe due to sanctions, on the one hand, and pressure from the part of China, on the other hand. Therefore, “straddling” the right conservatives gives Russia a chance to try heading conglomeration of political forces engaged in European processes, thus manipulating them.

Direct influence of Russian strategy is sensed in Ukrainian matters. As a result, our country has become an object of coordinated subversive activities from the part of radical right forces of some European countries and Russia that jointly attempt to create a kind of anti-Ukrainian “western front”. Here, Hungarian Jobbik distinguishes itself the most. On the wave of the crisis of democratic institutes and European economy it has managed to increase parliamentary influence getting 20.54% of votes on April 6 elections compared to 15.86% in 2010 and actually becoming the largest radical right party in Eastern Europe. Declarations of this political force are noted for xenophobia and radicalism directed at violating territorial integrity of neighboring states and undermining their internal stability. Anti-Ukrainian activity of this party is realized through the support of Hungarian Diaspora and intensification of Hungarian influence on ethnic and political situation in Ukraine. Jobbik has included into its electoral program the idea to establish Hungarian autonomy in Ukraine and even demanded committing EU troops to Transcarpathia under pretence of avoiding escalation of interethnic conflicts in Ukraine.

There are grounded assumptions that this Hungarian political force receives financial and methodological support from Russia. Moreover, Attorney General of Hungary Polt has accused European Parliament Member Kovach in spying in favor of Russian Federation and requested Brussels to deprive him of immunity. The reasons for charges were his excessively frequent contacts with Russian diplomats and trips to Moscow.

In general, radical right parties acquired about a third of votes of European constituents and will be represented in the European Parliament. Compared to previous convocation, the balance of forces will not change, however, the influence of Euro-skeptics in this body may increase that will negatively affect the process of Ukraine’s European integration. This will objectively foster the promotion of Putin’s doctrine in Europe and increase of Russian influence on the process of strategic decision making by Europeans.