Duma deputy Kartapolov, who co-authored a bill criminalizing ‘discrediting’ volunteers in Russian forces, dismisses concerns about neo-Nazis in volunteer ranks

If Russian neo-Nazis are fighting against Ukraine, they’ve “already been reformed,” Andrey Kartapolov, a State Duma deputy and chairman of the defense committee, said in an interview with St. Petersburg publication Fontanka.

Kartapolov is the co-author of a bill, which was adopted in early March, and which makes it illegal to “discredit” fighters from “volunteer formations” serving Russia in the war in Ukraine. A journalist with Fontanka asked Kartapolov about neo-Nazis in the ranks of Russian volunteers, and in particular about a paramilitary group called Rusich Group, which was founded by neo-Nazi Alexey Milchakov and has Wagner Group ties.

“You can’t just up and make unsubstantiated declarations that these people support fascists. We have no basis for that,” Kartapolov responded.

When the journalist responded that there are bases for the claim, pointing out that there are numerous published interviews in which Milchakov openly states that he is a Nazi, as well as photographs of Rusich Group members practicing Nazi salutes and showing swastika tattoos, Kartopolov said: “I think they’ve removed their tattoos and don’t salute like that anymore.”

“If they’re fulfilling their duties as members of the Russian troops, they’ve already been reformed,” he added.