Tsargrad the Litmus Tester

Russian oligarchs have a stereotype of being rich and involved in politics. Now Konstantin Malofeyev, the so-called “Orthodox oligarch,” is taking steps to ensure that his political views are represented in the State Duma by creating a new political organization: Tsargrad.

Malofeyev, the 46-year-old leader of the movement holds creationist, monarchist, and Russian nationalist views, and is a proponent of the “traditional” family.

Upon founding Tsargrad, Malogeyev wrote in a Telegram post that the movement already had almost one million supporters. He stated that the organization will act as a public controller during elections to the State Duma next year. The movement’s goals are “preserving the nation, protecting the traditional family, the restoration of the imperial traditions of Russian statehood, the maintenance of civic peace and harmony, the maintenance of political and social stability, and the defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.”

In order to achieve their goals, Tsargrad will support candidates who share their views. In addition, according to spokesman Valery Rukobratsky, Tsargrad will use any legal means available to prevent electing “candidates guilty of Russophobia, insulting the feelings of religious believers, distorting historical truth, or belittling the significance of the achievement of the people in defending the Fatherland.”

Among Tsargrad’s leadership are the politically nationalist former adviser to Putin, Sergei Glazyev, far-right philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, and conservative former Prosecutor-General Yury Skuratov.