Male State
Male State (MG; Russian: Мужское государство, romanized: Muzhskoye gosudarstvo; MG) is an unofficial Russian men's movement that advocates patriarchy and Russian nationalism.[1][2][3][4] The group's activities focus on online harassment: community members insult, bully and threaten women, black people,[5] people in interracial relationships, and LGBT people.[6][7][8]
Male State Мужское государство | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | MG |
| Leader | Vladislav Pozdnyakov |
| Founded | October 2016 |
| Banned | 18 October 2021 |
| Headquarters | Moscow, Russia |
| Ideology | National patriarchy Russian ultranationalism Antifeminism Homophobia Anti-immigration Racism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Colours | Black White |
| Party flag | |
The group was created by Vladislav Pozdnyakov in 2016 as a private community on the social network VKontakte. In 2020, the "Male State" community was blocked by VKontakte for "incitement to violent action".[9] In 2021, a Russian court banned the group as extremist, stating that it incited hatred against women and gay people.[10][11]
Activities
The group advocates patriarchy, Russian nationalism and radical information warfare against the current government (Male State claims that Russia's current leaders are too pro-women[12]). The group's activities are concentrated mainly on the Internet: members locate people (usually women) who express feminist or gay-friendly views on social media and target them with insults and threats of beatings or murder.[8][12] The group has also held periodic in-person meetings, during which members learned hand-to-hand combat and pneumatic weapons use.[13] Some members have identified the LDPR as their political partner.
History
"Male State" began as a private community on the Russian social media network VKontakte. It was created in 2016 by the Russian bodybuilder Vladislav Pozdnyakov and maintained strict membership rules.[12]
In December 2018, Pozdnyakov was sentenced to a two-year suspended sentence under Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for "actions aimed at humiliating human dignity in relation to women".[14] A year later, the sentence was overturned.[15][16]
In 2019, four members of the "Male State" from Khabarovsk, detained in 2017, were convicted of extremist activities.[1][9]
In 2020, the "Male State" community was blocked by the VKontakte administration for "incitement to violent action".[9][17] By the time of blocking, the group consisted of over 150 thousand users. After the blocking of the "Male State" and two more of his communities on VKontakte, Pozdnyakov began to actively maintain his channel on Telegram, a messaging service, and has garnered more than 80 thousand subscribers.
In July 2021, Pozdnikov was accused of leading a hate campaign against the Russian wife of a Nigerian student who had drowned while rescuing a swimmer in western Russia’s Kaliningrad region.[18]
In August 2021, Yobidoyobi co-founder Konstantin Zimen said he and his business received a barrage of threats and abuse after Vladislav Pozdnyakov shared a Yobidoyobi ad featuring a black man on his social media pages and called for action to be taken. The company took down the ad and apologized.[19]
On 18 October 2021, the Nizhny Novgorod regional court declared the organization extremist, thus banning its activities in Russia.[10][20]
On 4 August 2022, Male State and sympathizers targeted Dedaena Bar, in Tbilisi, because pro-Putin Russians are banned, posting thousands of negative reviews and hacking their website.[21]
References
- ^ a b Наталия Зотова (2018-09-07). "Как осведомитель ФСБ помог создать "Мужское государство"". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ "Мужское государство: Чем известно движение "за права мужчин"". Wonderzine (in Russian). 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ Алексей Иванов (2018-10-24). "Как "Мужское государство" учило хлюпиков Родину и баб не любить". kp.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ ""Пусть сидит дома и стирает портки": о чем говорят в мужских пабликах". РИА Новости (in Russian). 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ "Drowned Nigerian Student's Russian Wife Says Faces Racist Online Attacks". 2021-07-21.
- ^ Ольга Кузнецова (2020-07-08). ""Сначала был шок, а потом страх": как "Мужское государство" выбирает жертв". sobesednik.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ Карина Меркурьева (2021-02-21). ""Мы придем за тобой". Как "Мужское государство" травит активисток". Радио Свобода (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ a b Сергей Хазов-Кассиа (2020-06-06). "Патриархальный провокатор. "Мужское государство" и его король". Радио Свобода (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ a b c "Паблик "Мужское государство" заблокировали за "призывы к насильственным действиям"". meduza.io (in Russian). 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ a b "Russia Outlaws Anti-Women 'Male State' Group as 'Extremist'". The Moscow Times. 18 October 2021.
- ^ "Male State: Russia bans group for anti-women and anti-gay posts". BBC News. 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
- ^ a b c "Bullies proclaiming "national patriarchy" harass Russian feminists". The Economist. August 28, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Игнат Шестаков (2018-10-19). "Впавшие в девство: женоненавистники выходят из интернета в мир". Известия (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ "Создателя "Мужского государства" Позднякова приговорили к двум годам лишения свободы условно". Медиазона (in Russian). 2018-01-18. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ "Суд отменил приговор создателю сообщества "Мужское государство" в соцсети". РБК (in Russian). 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ "Суд отменил приговор создателю паблика "Мужское государство" по делу о возбуждении ненависти к женщинам". meduza.io (in Russian). 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ ""Мужское государство" заблокировали за призывы к насилию. Паблик обещал "морально уничтожить" россиянок за порноклип солиста Rammstein". www.fontanka.ru (in Russian). 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ "Drowned Nigerian Student's Russian Wife Says Faces Racist Online Attacks". 2021-07-21.
- ^ "Russian Sushi Chain Apologizes for Ad Featuring Black Man". 2021-08-31.
- ^ "«Мужское государство» признали экстремистским и запретили в России". rbc.ru. 18 October 2021.
- ^ "Russian Extremists Target A Bar In Tbilisi Where Patrons Have To Denounce Putin". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 10 August 2022.