page_title: Alexander Zaldostanov
section_title: Night Wolves
hierarchical_section_title: Alexander Zaldostanov / Night Wolves
caption_attribution_description: Русский: Ночные ВолкиEnglish: Night Wolves motorcycle club
context_page_description: Alexander Sergeyevich Zaldostanov, is a Russian motorcycle club leader, political activist, and former physician. He is the leader of the Night Wolves, Russia's largest motorcycle club. He was awarded the Medal "For the Return of Crimea" by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for his actions in "Helping Crimeans to self-determine".
context_section_description: Zaldostanov was introduced to motorcycle culture in the mid 1980s, while he was in Berlin.  He purchased a Czech-made motorcycle, and began participating in the biker scene in Moscow while still working as a surgeon.  He formed the Night Wolves, Russia's first major motorcycle club, in 1989. The club maintains close ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, and promotes nationalist ideals. Moving away from themes like drugs and organized crime associated with American motorcycle clubs like the Hells Angels, Zaldostanov began to use the club for political activism in the 2000s.
  In the late 2000s, the club began holding rallies in the former Soviet Eastern European countries, promoting Slavic culture.  Vladimir Putin participated in one rally, travelling with the group to Sevastopol in 2012.  Zaldostanov has offered the Night Wolves to the Russian Government as an informal militia.  Zaldostanov and other club members visited Crimea just prior to the Russian annexation in 2014, and publicly supported the change of power on the peninsula.  He and the Night Wolves have offered support to pro-Russia militias fighting in the eastern Ukraine.
caption: Riding with the Night Wolves, 2013
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