Union of Councils for Soviet Jews: Motherland Party Recruiting Neo-Nazis in Provinces

The Motherland Party, which has several vociferous antisemites and racists in its top ranks, has once again attracted outright neo-Nazis into its membership, according to a March 13, 2006 report by the Sova Information-Analytical Center. The Tolyatti (Samara region) based neo-Nazi group National Alliance on March 7 announced that it is disbanding and joining the Motherland Party, a move approved by Motherland's national leadership. National Alliance leader Sergey Lektorovich, described in the Sova report as an “ex-skinhead”, referred to Motherland as a “holy source” which his group would join in its continuing efforts to promote the idea of “national rebirth and love of the nation.” He has in the past been linked by police with attacks on non-Russians, but starting in 2003 made his transformation into a local political figure, supporting protests against monetization of benefits.