Ah, the Russian March. Every Nov. 4 – Russia’s Unity Day, a federal holiday that was created in 2005 and conveniently bears a similar name to that of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s party, United Russia – Russians march around various cities to commemorate a 17th-century uprising against Poland, a turning point in the 1605-1618 Polish-Muscovite War.
Normally, the Russian March is criticized for its racist and xenophobic undertones. In 2014, for example, participants wore masks and camouflage and chanted “Russia for Russians.” This year, however, it was not only anti-immigrant (although, not to worry, there was plenty of that, too) but also – in a strange twist on the normally nationalist tone – anti-Putin.
