Overview
Stanislav Anatolyevich Vorobyev is a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the U.S. Department of State and is the founder and one of the leaders of the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization responsible for providing paramilitary-style training to neo-Nazis and white supremacists.“Designation of the Russian Imperial Movement,” U.S. Department of State, April 6, 2020, https://www.state.gov/designation-of-the-russian-imperial-movement/.
Vorobyev reportedly founded the RIM in 2002.Bill Gertz, “State Department targets Russian group for links to U.S. white nationalists,” Washington Times, April 6, 2020, https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/6/state-department-targets-russian-group-links-us-wh/. RIM seeks to create a “mono-ethnic state” led by a “Russian autocratic monarchy,” preferably descended from the Romanov dynasty that led Russia before the 1917 revolution.J. Lester Feder, Edgar Mannheimer, Jane Lytvynenko, “These Swedish Nazis Trained In Russia Before Bombing A Center For Asylum Seekers,” BuzzFeed News, July 22, 2017, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lesterfeder/these-swedish-nazis-trained-in-russia#.jmj8rBGYv. Although the group is not sponsored by the Russian state, RIM has allegedly recruited and trained Russian fighters for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.Humeyra Pamuk, “U.S. designates Russian ultra-nationalist group as terrorist organization,” Reuters, April 6, 2020, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-designation/u-s-designates-russian-nationalist-group-as-terrorist-organization-u-s-official-idUSKBN21O1UQ.; Charlie Savage, Adam Goldman and Eric Schmitt, “U.S. Will Give Terrorist Label to White Supremacist Group for First Time,” New York Times, April 6, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/terrorist-label-white-supremacy-Russian-Imperial-Movement.html. RIM’s training network includes two facilities in St. Petersburg, one called Partizan, which are allegedly used to train people for “global chaos” through training in woodland and urban assault, tactical weapons, and hand-to-hand combat training.“United States Designates Russian Imperial Movement and Leaders as Global Terrorists,” U.S. Department of State, April 7, 2020, https://www.state.gov/united-states-designates-russian-imperial-movement-and-leaders-as-global-terrorists/.
Additionally, the RIM has supported the efforts of neo-Nazi organizations in Scandinavia.“U.S. Will Give Terrorist Label to White Supremacist Group for First Time,” New York Times, April 6, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/us/politics/terrorist-label-white-supremacy-Russian-Imperial-Movement.html. In late 2016 and early 2017, three members of the extreme right-wing Nordic Resistance Movement carried out a series of bombings in Sweden. Two of the perpetrators, Viktor Melin and Anton Thulin, had previously attended Partizan and Swedish officials believe it aided in their radicalization.J. Lester Feder, Edgar Mannheimer, Jane Lytvynenko, “These Swedish Nazis Trained In Russia Before Bombing A Center For Asylum Seekers,” BuzzFeed News, July 22, 2017, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lesterfeder/these-swedish-nazis-trained-in-russia#.jmj8rBGYv.
The group’s official website, Rusimperia.info, is now defunct, however, another website Rusimperia.org, features similar posts, calling on Russians to organize and march together to liberate Russia for the restoration of the monarchy. One such event has been planned for November, 4, 2020.“Russian Empire,” Russian Empire Independent Russian News, https://rusimperia.org/.; “RUSSIAN MARCH NOVEMBER 4 !!! COLLECTION AT M. OCTOBER FIELD !!!,” Russian Empire Independent Russian News, https://russkiymarsh.org/.
On April 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Stated designated Vorobyev as an SDGT for being one of the RIM’s leaders and for providing training for acts of terrorism that threaten the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The designation is the first time the U.S. government has listed a white supremacist group.“United States Designates Russian Imperial Movement and Leaders as Global Terrorists,” U.S. Department of State, April 7, 2020, https://www.state.gov/united-states-designates-russian-imperial-movement-and-leaders-as-global-terrorists/.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Russian Imperial Movement (RIM)
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Neo-Nazi, white supremacist
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Monarchist, neo-Nazi, paramilitary, Orthodox Christian, violent, white supremacist
- Position(s):
- Founder and leader
The Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) is a neo-Nazi, monarchist, white supremacist group operating out of Russia with supporters around the world.
History
United States
The U.S. Department of State designated Stanislav Anatolyevich Vorobyev as a Specially Designated Terrorist on April 6, 2020.“Designation of the Russian Imperial Movement,” U.S. Department of State, April 6, 2020, https://www.state.gov/designation-of-the-russian-imperial-movement/.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers.