Dmitri Rogozin, Russia’s permanent representative to NATO recently claimed that European politicians are continuing to propagate fascist and Nazi principles which is evident from the extreme neo-Nazism of the Baltic states.

In a reference to the accused mass killer Anders Breivik, Rogozin stated that, “Nazism is nearly glorified by leading politicians in the former Soviet republics of the Baltic. … It’s not surprising that the ordinary [Breivik] man on the street has taken these ideas as a call to action.” Rogozin added that military alliances like NATO are helpless in protecting Europeans from attacks by individual terrorists. “How can you fight neo-Nazism in Europe, if this [political trend] has developed to its full extent in the Baltic states?”

In targeting the political leadership of the Baltic countries, Moscow deliberately ignores the public record of these politicians all of whom have condemned fascism and its followers. Any Estonian politician who values the country’s independence knows that both fascism and communism are the nails in the coffin of Estonia’s independence. (Fascism in this context covers a wider spectrum of ideology, including Nazism and is not limited to the strict definition of a dictionary.) It has become common to publicly equate fascism with communism as equally brutal and violent forms of governance. But the Kremlin, in the throes of twisted logic constantly accuses those who use the equivalency example as being fascist themselves. This also applies to designating the 23rd of August, the day that communist Russia and fascist (Nazi) Germany signed a pact of non-aggression, in essence a partnership to invade central and eastern Europe, as a day of commemoration in memory of both the victims of communism and fascism. For most, drawing parallels between the Soviet and Nazi systems is the most resolute way of rejecting fascism itself. But it seems that for Moscow those who condemn fascism are fascists.

Rogozin added: “It’s significant that it’s been Estonian politicians who have reacted to my comments about the spread of fascism in Europe. Just recently Estonia’s defence minister Mart Laar said that he would greet approaching Russian tanks with a hand grenade. Now Estonia’s foreign minister has notified us of his anti-tank plans. In Russia we have a saying: A thief wears a burning hat.” This is to signify that the culpable are easily identified.

However, observers have noted that Rogozin has chosen the wrong metaphor in accusing foreign minister Urmas Paet who commented that: “Injecting politics into the Norwegian tragedy is totally unprecedented and inappropriate. To exploit this tragedy for incomprehensible goals says something about the person who states such things.”

To the casual witness, Rogozin’s outbursts might appear to be the “shoot-from-the-hip” meanderings of an unpredictable and uncontrollable Moscow representative. But he has a well established record of broadsides from a seemingly loose cannon.

Those familiar with the political repartee of Brussels know that Rogozin’s opinions are part of a systematically formulated strategy implemented by an obedient government official tasked with discrediting Estonia and its neighbouring countries in the eyes of Europe. They are also convinced that unsubstantiated claims might eventually rub off on the uninformed and slowly gain at least emotional momentum.

To use the violent death of dozens of innocent people as a basis for dis-information and political propaganda points not only to the sordid depths the Kremlin will sink to gain advantage, but also to the misplaced confidence that Russian leadership has in its own ability to make diplomatic headway at whatever cost.

Märkmed: