The Karelian National Movement (Russian: Карельское национальное движение, romanized: Karelskoye natsional'noye dvizheniye; Finnish: Karjalan kansallinen liike; Karelian: Karjalan kanšallin liikeh), officially KKL-Stop the Occupation of Karelia[2] is an umbrella term for two organizations that split from each other in 2023. The organization led by the original creator, Dmitry Kuznetsov, who also goes by the name Miteri Panfilov, is called Stop the Occupation of Karelia (Finnish: Lopeta Karjalan Valtaus); it was previously known as the Karelian National Liberation Movement.[3][4] The organization led by Vladislav Oleynik is called the Karelian National Movement.[5]
Both of the organizations are far-rightKarelian separatist groups,[6] dating back to 2012 under the name Stop the Occupation of Karelia.[7]
The movement was founded in 2012 under the name Stop the Occupation of Karelia by Dmitry Kuznetsov.[7] In 2014 a website under the same name was created that advocated for the full independence of Karelia. The website was banned by Roskomnadzor in 2015.[3] In 2016 Dmitry Kuznetsov gained political asylum in Spain after being prosecuted in Russia for separatism. At the point of prosecution, he had already been living in Spain for more than 2 years.[9] The leader of the Karelian Republican Movement, Vadim Shtepa, refused to cooperate with the KNM, citing their ethnocentrism as the reason. He also stated that the Karelian National Movement has no future due to their extreme nationalism and complete misunderstanding of the current situation in the Republic of Karelia.[10]
On 20 July 2023, the Karelian National Movement was dissolved as a solid entity after an internal conflict within the organization.[11]
On 15 November 2023, the Karelian National Movement of Oleynik demanded Kuznetsov to stop the conflict and to return control of the original Telegram channel, after that demand the Karelian National Liberation Movement of Kuznetsov was renamed back to Stop the Occupation of Karelia.[4][5]
Activities
The movement became active again after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and changed its name to the current one.[7] It gained new members, many of whom were parts of right-wing movements, as Vladislav Oleynik, the administrator of a right-wing online group called "Væringjavegr ᛝ Fennoscandia".[12] He became the head of international relations of the organization.[10]
The KKL considers the Pomors one of the most related peoples, therefore they work closely with the organization "Pomoṙska Slobóda" (pomor. Помо́рьска Слобо́да), which advocates the independence of Pomorie [ru].[14]
In 2023 the Oleynik wing of the organization created a new organization named Suur-Suomen sotilat (Finnish: Soldiers of Greater Finland), aimed at dividing Russia into multiple Finno-Ugric republics, the new organization has close ties with Far-right groups in Finland.[5]
Due to ideological differences on the position of the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Free Russia Legion in the Belgorod Incursions, on 7 June 2023, Dmitry Kuznetsov announced the cessation of communication between itself and the remaining members of the Karelian National Battalion.[18] But Vladislav Oleynik later resumed their cooperation.[5]
The Russian side believes that the organization was founded in order to stir up conflicts in the Republic of Karelia and create a narrative that Karelia wants to break away from Russia.[19][5]
Stop the Occupation of Karelia seeks the creation of an independent Karelian state for Karelians, Finns, Vepsians, Pomors, Samis, Kola Norwegians[10] based on traditional Nordic values.[19] The Stop the Occupation of Karelia movement considered Russians to be the occupiers of Karelia and support their involvement in the movement, which is why they refused to cooperate with the Karelian Republican Movement, due to their more moderate position in 2010s.[10] Stop the Occupation of Karelia opposed partisan activities in Karelia and expects the development of a scenario following the example of Slovenia during the breakup of Yugoslavia.[7]
Territorial claims of Karelian National Movement
Stop the Occupation of Karelia also claims territories lost by Finland after the Winter War, including the city of Vyborg to be belonging to an independent Karelian state.[20] Their claims also include Kandalaksha, the southeast of the Kola peninsula and the towns of Onega, Tikhvin and Vytegra and Kirishi.[10]
Position of the Karelian National Movement
Karelian National Movement sticker on a pole in Karelia
The Karelian National Movement is a member of Suur-Suomen sotilaat, a pan-nationalistpan-Finnic movement. The Karelian National Movement wishes for the restoration of Karelian independence and with the creation of comfortable living conditions for the indigenous peoples, the Karelians, Vepsians, Sami and the Pomors.[21] They wish to secure rights for the indigenous peoples to do traditional activities, such as fishing and hunting. They also wish to promote Karelian language and promote rights for the indigenous peoples, and give the indigenous peoples their own autonomous areas within Karelia.[5][21] The Karelian National Movement is in favour of working with other movements in Karelia and Russia to secure independence for the Finno-Ugric peoples and republics of Russia.[22]
The Karelian National Movement is also affiliated with the Conservative People's Party of Estonia and other Finnish pan-Finnic and conservative movements and organizations, such as: Uralin Lapset and Fight Club.[5][23] The Karelian National Movement claims to be "anti-Neo-Bolshevik" and anti-Communist.[24] The Karelian National Movement is Pro-western and wishes to secure relations with the Nordic countries upon the achievement of independence.[21]
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