The comparisons between Russian and German nationalistic movements are inaccurate and naive. The differences are in the scales of the phenomena inasmuch as they are in their roots and probable outcomes.

It is also unfortunate that many Western observers compare Russia with the democratic societies they live in and find it at a loss. They are puzzled about the Russians' longing for a strong state authority and dread the thought that political and intellectual liberalism - despite its centuries' deep roots in the inteligentsia movement - is failing to become a societal mainstream.

Like it or not, Russia is different than the Europe. This is not a matter of time required for becoming a more "mature" society. You are dealing with a different culture bearing little semblance to the Western Europe as we know it nowadays.

Embrace it without fear and suspicion and you will discover a wonderfully open and tolerant people. Push it and you will wake up the bear.

Victor, Windhoek,

Thanks god Russia is waking up! The West did a big mistake by bulling Russia in 90s. Now the bear is waking up and it would be a tough time for the West very soon becouse Russia's interests are have to be satisfied by West over all the world - like you it or not.

By the way, "Nashi" doesnt have anything in common with Nazi. There is no any idea of "clear" nation or something like that. No nation has any advantage with respect to each other becourse the Russia is multinational and multicultural country - that is the strength of the russian culture. This meeting is all about historical traditions of russian people (there are very many mini-nations inside Russia and they all are called russians), about patriotic education and against globalization and the way which West is trying to democratize the world (Iraq, Afganistan).

Alex, Moscow,

One more thing. USSR's left-wing radicalization in the 30s and 40s was possible because of its remoteness from any outside influence. WWII offered the East and the West a chance to meet and interact and the cold war helped contain both the right-wing radicalization in the West and further left-wing radicalization in the USSR. Eventually, perestroika led to the popular death of the communist ideology and rise of the free market enterprise in Russia and its surrounds.

Russia has changed a great deal in the past decade and 1/2. Has the West? With an ambition swollen from the perceived defeat of communism it raised the banner of moral superiority and went on to fix the remaining "wrongs" of this world. The 90s and early 00s were a period of tremendous opportunity lost to arrogance and political shortsightedness. If Russia radicalizes again, it can be hardly faulted for insufficient effort to engage the West. What about the West?

Victor, Windhoek,

Unfortunately I think it is like Allan from Estonia said.... "Nashi" sounds to me much like "Nazi youth".... maybe they are on opposite politic spectrum... but it seems like a circle.... very left takes over where very right ends....
I really wonder how they inthis age of internet and communication can put such distorted views on their followers (i.e. 80 people dying at G8...).... however I already noticed, that one big minus for Russia is, that hardly anybody understands English....

They are not ready to face international competition.... and only their oil and gas is keeping Russia up.... Also there is a demographic bomb with Russian population decreasing... many old people, few young ones....

Jurg, Zurich, Switzerland

Great. An army of the brainwashed rebels with a cause handed to them by KGB oligarchs. We're far from perfect but this is terrifying madness - what is it with these people's habit for being whipped up into fervur that will only ruin them?

We need to get over oil and gas asap and protect our core values. Oh sorry, what's that Labour? We're in big touble already so we need to throw out the civil liberites and laws we're fighting to protect so we don't become like them? Oh well, better red (Labour) than dead?

Gavin, London,

Historically, Russian success has always been attributed to strong leaders and it is a trait of the Russian character to respect strength and clear vision. Weakness and indecision in Russian leadership have throughout the centuries, gone hand in hand with economic and social strife.

My main point is that maybe we should stop trying to impose our own self-righteous view of democracy upon other countries, and respect their own way of doing things. Why should we (UK and USA) feel the need to democratise the world! What fits one person does not necessarily fit another; the same is true for nations. We should work with Russia on global issues such as climate change and world terrorism, but leave them to make their own choices as far as running their country is concerned.

I leave you with some questions: which two countries recently aggressively invaded another in opposition to its own domestic opinion? So who has true democracy?

Jonathan Barley, Derby/ Moscow, England/ Russia

There is nothing wrong with a little healthy patriotic spirit (something that is lacking in England of late). It seems like if you are even slightly patriotic these days, then you become labelled as a racist! I would love to be able to make Britain great; but great does not mean bullying other countries using political and economic muscle--it means growing a strong healthy population based on high moral standards.

To understand the Russian mentality, you need to live there and appreciate both the historical and sociological factors that have influenced both its domestic and international policies throughout the last century. To just label Russia as a fascist state and criticise its policies as being undemocratic is both short sighted and naive.

Jonathan Barley, Derby/ Moscow, England/ Russia

Actually the movement gets a lot of criticism both from "liberals" and Russian nationalists, because they actually do promote some sort of multicultural and multiethnical society.

Andrey, Moscow,

Putin,Markov ,and Yakemenko(remember these names) are simply resurrecting what Hitler and Himmler did with the nazi youth mouvement. that became the Waffen SS Where is all this taking us I do not know? What I do know is, it sounds ominous ,particularly at a time when the U.S.of A,is very tired of conflicts,I suggest great caution,and an iron will to defend our principles at all cost.Prevarication and compromise are all the tools needed for "them" to consider us week and vulnerable to "invasion".History has a way of repeating itself The "?" is do we still wear the balls of our blitzed grandfathers.

james hazan, huddersfield, uk

_The group claims to be preparing 60,000 members to conduct exit polls in forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections to head off the prospect that allegations of ballot-rig-ging could spark protests similar to those that took place in Ukraine and Georgia.

Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-linked academic, who helped to found Nashi, told The Times: “Nashi’s enemies are those who want to undermine the independence of Russia. During the elections, the goal of Nashi will be to support those who are supported by President Putin.” _

Scary stuff indeed. I bet those exit polls will be supportive to whoever Putin finds acceptable.

T.V., Tallinn,

Sounds like the start of the reign of Czar Putin.

Craig , Chanute,

I saw them on TV, Putin's visit and what he said to them that British people should start using their brains etc. They are like Putin Jugend there, very VERY scary! And they are right behind the border...

kristin, Tallinn, Estonia

Having been to Russia on several extended visits hosed by Russian intelligentsia, I can report that according to them, 95% of Russians still have the same attitudes as during communist times. However, this is a country that still can't organize its internal affairs and is trying for anything to rebuild a cohesive society. What no one in the West understood during the cold war was that Russia was unstable internally and still is, with many ethnic groups and regional problems that the West never hears about. Civil war there is more likely than open war with the West and is what Russians secretly fear.

Mike, Pittsburgh,

It would be interesting to know whether Nashi includes many members who are not blond-haired, blue-eyed, chubby-cheeked youngsters with clearly Slavic names.

Ian Morrison, Auckland, New Zealand

I agree with Deepan what is Marco Borg talking about? I mean he doesnt sound like a indigenous Briton to me. Doesnt that make him a total hypocrite?? Immigration has existed since time begain, I'd even say that is an intrinsic part of human nature. I mean if you lived somewhere where your monthly earnings where equivalent to a days work in London wouldnt you move somewhere else??

Alex Moujik, Ldn, Europe

Well done putin.A proud country with a sense of identity,bravo.
No idiotic political correct ness there.Show europe the way.

colin, peterborough, england

Can you say " Hitler Youth Movement"

Oliver, Brighton,

It would be interesting to know whether Nashi includes many members who are not blond-haired, blue-eyed, chubby-cheeked youngsters with clearly Slavic names.

Ian Morrison, Auckland, New Zealand

Dear friends, and especially those who still cherish the idea of Russia's defeat in the Cold War. We are back. Like it or not. As I see you don't. My condolences. We have national interests, we are educated (Thanks to you... You taught us a lot recently with your arrogance and false smiles) we are young and very very hungry to get back what is OURS. So, treat or trick ...

Slava, Pskov, Russia

But wouldn't it be great if British youth would love our country instead of killing each other in teen-gang stabbings?

Chris, Suffolk, UK

in West people are only proud of their credit cards. There is no national pride and yet we are fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan. It's time to stick up for European identity. We've done the democracy thing, the economy thing, let's stick up for identity before our countries are diluted out of existence.

greg, charleroi, belgium

Of course the messages sent forth by our rap musicians etc are so much better. This is wholesome fare by comparasion. The article neglected to mention it, but no doubt there's a 5-year plan in the works to boost the production of Russian babies. Perhaps doing so is one of the camp activities. I hope so.

charles, detroit,

what's the big deal ? the country has alcoholism, low birth andlots of educated young people left during the yeltsin yrs.
Events like this are trying to give young people a sense of direction.

Dimitri, somewshere, USA

It is stunning to see these kinds of events taking place....... de facto Russia is going back to communist times, so why don't they call themselves the USSR again or the Communist Republic of Rusia or similar nomenclatures? Russians complain that the western media gives a bad image of them, which I don't think is done intentionally, cause examples like the one portrayed in this article and so many others speak for themselves. I have met a few Russians, and they all were nice, highly cultivated and intelligent people..... nevertheless, the feeling I have since Putin came to power is that Russia is an unwelcoming country for foreigners, and I don't want to imagine what it's like for blacks or arabs or other ethnicities.......

Juan Carlos, Madrid,

Nothing new about the thing that Todays russia is the same as Hitlers Germany was in 1930-ies as the system, that brings forth such states is the same. Firstly, collapse of an empire(germans lost WWI, russians The Cold War), that is followed by the marginalisation on the global level leading to the loss on a stable national identity. That is also accompanied by a economic(German econ. never recovered really, and the same applies for the Russian economy, it has never successfully recovered from the loss of its "colonial states") collapse and total chaos in the social sphere. And then comes along this young and energetic leader(Hitler/Putin) who uses expendable resources(Hitler borrowed from banks and industrial magnates, Putin uses Russias natural resources) to boost the living standards of ordinary people through investments into the military industry. .When the resources are exhausted the only way to maintain your achievements through concquest and plunder. History repeats itself.

Allan, Tallinn, Estonia

Is there anything bad that young people gather in summer camp? Is there anything bad that young people learn history of their motherland? It’s true that lots of young people still can’t afford to have good rest. But I think that those “democrats” who were in power in middle 90-s should be blamed for it. Some of them found “new home” in GB. We can learn some things from our “American partners”. It were them who organized youth movement it Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine when “American partners” were setting up color revolutions there.

Russian Ivan, Moscow, Russia

If this article is aimed at reducing support for Putin and promote Berezovsky it has failed miserably. We need something similar to stop the invasion of Europe by Moslems and Africans, to stop 80 million Asian Turkish Moslims from having the right to settle in Europe and to stop the transfer of European inventions and jobs to Asia. Russians are fellow Europeans.

Marco BORG, London, UK

What is the relevance of this post to the article? We are a nation obsessed.

Deepan, Bushey, U.K

If this article is aimed at reducing support for Putin and promote Berezovsky it has failed miserably. We need something similar to stop the invasion of Europe by Moslems and Africans, to stop 80 million Asian Turkish Moslims from having the right to settle in Europe and to stop the transfer of European inventions and jobs to Asia. Russians are fellow Europeans.

Marco BORG, London, UK

I think the true path to power is to have just enough democracy to appease people, but with enough manipulation to keep yourself in power, and have just enough events to "indoctrinate" people to your way of thinking, pick on a Western power, and demonize them...

Kind of like what China does...

V M, Hon,

Another cold war is certain with the Russian Federation along China and the rest of the Western Europe. It seems this is likely to take effect in the next five to ten years GARANTEE!

The Russians miss their greatness. The young generation is determined to bring back their lost history, people who are in their thirties and fourties are happy in terms of their economical achievements but they do not mind to add greatness if they do not pay the price. The older generation doesn't have any say as their life was spent during the communist era.

Shaft, Toronto, Canada