"Once Russia's henchmen, Cossacks now helping with Olympic security"

[applegrove]

Once Russia's henchmen, Cossacks now helping with Olympic security

By Zarifmo Aslamshoyeva, CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/25/world/europe/russia-olympics-who-are-the-cossacks/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

"SNIP...................................


Known for rebelling against Russia's feudal system, the Cossack state allied itself with Russia's tsars to help create the monolithic Russian Empire. These warrior horsemen helped bring Russian rule to vast parts of the country, most notably Siberia.

During the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, the Cossacks fought for the Russian crown in regional wars against the Russian people, garnering a reputation as the tsars' henchmen. Acting on behalf of the Russian Empire, the Cossacks carried out pogroms, or massacres of the Jews, in 19th century Russia.

But over time, the tsars became wary of the Cossacks' impunity against the Russian Empire and their inability to fully control them. So, when the Cossacks again turned to rebellion against the empire and its imposed rule, the tsars ruthlessly punished the Cossack leaders and their warriors, as documented in the Cossack rebellion, led by Yemelyan Pugachev, against Catherine the Great in the late 18th century.

The tsars and the Cossacks found themselves united once again during the rise of the Bolsheviks in the early 20th century. The Cossacks supported Tsar Nicolas II and the anti-communist forces that made up the White Movement during the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 and the ensuing Russian Civil War.



...................................SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. What is it with some kind of fundamentalist strongmen and using history

to create the right kind of nationalism? Stephen Harper in Canada is changing the museum of civilization, which celebrated all the cultures in the world that make up Canada, into the museum of british Canadian history or something. No doubt to better promote the traditional business singlemindedness that the British brough to Canada. Many cultures brought/bring great things to this country. But no. It has to be the narrative of the british. Same thing Putin the strong man seems to be doing here. Using the narrative of one group to push an agenda to the exclusion of others. Is there a playbook for secretive political Presidents and PMs? Are they all reading Disraeli? Cause it worked so well in the USA where the middle class is disappearing?

[longship]

2. No doubt, channeling Taras Bulba.

Taras Bulba

[jsr]

3. .

Over 400 Cossacks arrived in the Winter Olympic host city of Sochi to help policemen during next month's Games