Who Is “The Surgeon” Alexander Zaldostanov?

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Originally posted October 20, 2015.

And who are the Night Wolves? Zaldostanov is the leader of the Russian nationalist biker gang known as the Night Wolves. The 5,000-some-member gang conducts stridently nationalistic rallies loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zaldostanov views his gang as holy warriors and travels widely extolling Russian greatness and warning of Russia’s enemies America, Europe, NATO, “fifth Columnists,” and liberalism in general. Orthodox Christianity is widely promoted in protests and pilgrimages.

For a number of years a wave of right wing nationalism has been sweeping over Europe, perhaps best personified by the traction gained by Front National (FN) and Marine Le Pen in France. Zaldostanov is every bit as dedicated and vocal about nationalism as is Le Pen and has now ascended to a position of considerable prominence, power and public recognition in Russia, with the support of the Kremlin and his buddy Putin.

Zaldostanov’s message appears to run parallel to that of Russian writer Alexander Dugin, of whom I have written often of here (read here, here, here, and here). Both are publicly vocal in their opposition to the governments of America and Europe, and both of these “pot stirrers” appear to have Putin’s ear.

Given the highly public prodding of both Dugin and Zaldostanov, Russia’s aggressive posture in Ukraine and Syria is not surprising.