Identity politics works differently in Eastern Europe than it does in United States, but it is definitely present, and is tightly woven into the political discourse. Instead of race, identity politics in Eastern Europe is centered on language and culture.

I first posted this on Facebook in 2017, when Russian Nazism was already evident to Russia’s former colonies, but not yet obvious to the rest of the world. In 2020 I deleted my Facebook account. May 9, from now on #RussianShameDay, is a good day to revive this small prescient text.