2022 Russian Coup

The 2022 Russian Coup, which occurred on Feb. 21st, resulted in the overthrow of the Putin presidency and, eventually, a new constitution for Russia. The coup came amidst the growth of nationalism in the country and a quiet, gradual takeover of the government by military figures.

## Background

The coup, which gained traction in a state galvanized against Putin by populists and the military, had been obviously impending since the beginning of January 2022, although with roots in modern Russian history. Military officials had created plans to overthrow the Putin presidency since the beginning of the year.

### Rise of Nationalism and Military Takeover

The coup d'etat was committed by military officials as the country following mass destabilization, both internally and externally. This was, in part, due to Putin's own military policies and appointed officials, as well as polarizing a large portion of its population and government. The plotting of the coup initially started with the dismissal of the popular Federal Assembly to hold new elections, which would result in what many considered an unfair advantage for right-wing populist candidates after Putin banned all supposed Nazi and communist parties in the country. This disenfranchised many on the far left and right, many of which had previously supported the Putin presidency.

The composition of the State Duma following the 2022 electionThe composition of the Federation Council following the 2022 electionPutin replaced Sergei Shoigu with Alexei Didenko as the Minister of Defense. Didenko, a nationalist, pro-Putin politician in the State Duma, was an apt choice to replace Shoigu, who had had a falling out with President Vladimir Putin. Putin also replaced Minister of Emergency Situations Aleksandr Chupriyan with Ivan Otbrosynov. Both Didenko and Otbrosynov, however, were popular figures in an increasingly hypernationalist Russia, giving rise to further destabilization of the Russian Federation.

Nationalist groups throughout Russia began to demand greater power to Didenko and Otbrotsynov, even going so far as urging the military to depose Putin and install one or both of them as the chief executive of the country. This saw the emergence of three terrorist organizations: the Whiteshirts (pro-Didenko terror group), the Blackshirts (pro-Otbrotsynov terror group), and the Purpleshirts (monarchist terror group). These groups mainly accompanied marches in the major cities and began to take control over sections of Moscow.

### Urban Destabilization

*(See: Anti-Muslim Violence in Russia)*

Nationalists throughout Russia's cities began to attack Muslims and mosques throughout the country. This violence began with peaceful, albeit outraged, protests in Moscow. On January 11th, a group of radical Orthodox Christians gathered outside of St. Vladimir Church in Moscow to protest the construction of a new mosque in Sochi. A clerical fascist gave a speech, saying, "The Turkish and Chechen heretics are behind the plot to destroy Russia! They (Turks and Chechens) support the Muslim plague that is taking over Russian society! People Kill the heretics and the globalist spies! Burn and loot their homes! As we will never have a Mosque in Sochi!" Three hours after his speech, the protest turned violent, with members of the Whiteshirts, Blackshirts, and Purpleshirts playing a prominent role. The resentful nationalists pulled mosque-goers out of nearby mosques, killing many Muslims and burning Moscow's mosques. The military was eventually able to put the violence down, with over 11,000 Muslim casualties.

These nationalists, often associating Islam with Turkey, a state increasingly scapegoated by Whiteshirts and Blackshirts for Russia's problems, attacked the Turkish Embassy in Moscow two days later, with a bomb beginning the strike and a fire destroying the building. By the second explosion, there was only one survivor, with the ambassador and other essential staff being killed. The Whiteshirts took responsibility, and Didenko did not condemn the attack. Turkey asked President Putin to send gendarmerie to the site of the embassy, which was accepted, and attempted to apprehend Whiteshirts in the city. However, once the gendarmerie arrived, they were harassed by radicals and islamophobes. This eventually developed into violence, with the Turkish forces besieged in the ruined embassy. The next day, as Whiteshirts and Blackshirts descended upon the site, the gendarmerie opened fire on the crowd. They were immediately removed from the country, and paramilitaries across Russia began to attack the embassies of other countries, including Syria, Thailand, Britain, and Turkmenistan, with Syria and Thailand's embassies being razed. The military retained stronger positions outside of the Kremlin and the Federal Assembly.

Moscow, almost entirely controlled by terrorist factions except for federal enclaves around major governmental buildings, was shelled by the Russian army in an attempt to destroy the factions. This was largely unsuccessful, however.

## Coup

On Feb. 20th, the Military Council met in Nizhny Novgorod and declared a national emergency. To placate the Blackshirts, which were gaining more traction and defeating the Whiteshirts and Purpleshirts, they appointed Otbrotsynov as President of the Military Council. The next day, a convoy of members of the Military Council with a large army drove from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow. The soldiers defending the perimeter of the Kremlin allied themselves with the Military Council and let them in. Putin's personal guards stood down. Putin attempted to escape but was seized and forced to dissolve his government the next day.

## Aftermath

The 2022 Russian Coup resulted in the creation of the Provisional Russian Government by the Military Council, a government without political parties. The Military Council held a constitutional convention for a Federal Republic of Russia, which was mainly dominated by federalist liberals in the west and agrarians in the center of the country. The State Duma was renovated for 1,000 members, and elections in April of 2022 confirmed Alexander Navalny from the For Freedom and Democracy! Party as President of Russia, with Alexander Svobodanov of the Unity Party as Premier.

The Provisional Russian Government implemented several policies. First, its sanctions on importing energy to Turkey severely crippled that country's energy. It also opposed Turkey's ally, Azerbaijan, in Armenia and continued the populist anti-Muslim diplomatic sentiment. It also strengthened ties with other Christian nations. It began construction of infrastructure in southeastern Russia as well as infrastructure and farmland in the southwest.

Although calmed, Russian society remained volatile into April, with the murder of the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky, likely by communists.