Monarchist Party

Monarchist Party of the Russian Federation
Leader Anton Bakov
Founded 2012
Headquarters Kosulino (village), Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia
Ideology Monarchism
Website
www.monpartya.ru

The Monarchist Party of the Russian Federation is the only legal monarchist political party in Russia since the 1917 Russian Revolution. It was created in 2012 by prominent politician and businessman Anton Bakov, a former Member of Parliament. It declares its aim as restoration of monarchy in the country, while transforming it into a modern constitutional one "with full accordance to democratic procedures and current laws" as well as promoting the monarchist conception among Russians and other people of the world.

Founding and registration

The Monarchist Party's founding convention took place on April 7, 2012. Kommersant stated that 1000 members joined up.[1][2] The Russian Ministry of Justice registered and licensed the party in 2012.[3] By February 2013 members had organized 47 regional offices, exceeding the necessary limit to participate in regional elections.[4] The legal address[5] of the party is in Kosulino settlement near Ekaterinburg city. (The execution of the Romanov family took place in Ekaterinburg, where Bakov lives.) Bakov established the Monarchist Party as a part of his project of "Russian Empire"—a micronation claiming to be a successor of the former Russian Empire founded by Peter the Great, and pretending to the overseas territories discovered by Russian sailors but not included in the original empire's successor states—such as Suwarrow atoll in the South Pacific, Antarctica and others.

Anton Bakov and writer Andrey Matveev present their book "Idols of power", which explains their modern monarchist conception for Russia.

Attitude

The main declared goals for the party are the promotion of the monarchical idea and the union of Russian monarchists in Russia and abroad. Bakov lists the party's goals as "proposing a successor to [the] Throne; proclaiming a political program affordable for Monarchism in the 21st century; and maintaining a proper propaganda to outline the benefits of [a] monarchy, in particular, we have to carefully explain people why Vladimir Putin is not a monarch." He describes the need for a constitutional monarchy: "We cannot restore monarchic Autocracy, as it was with the Romanovs, and don't need to. We can only have Constitutional Monarchy. This way we can separate the irrational from the rational. On the one side, we will have a Monarch, who won't have absolute power. On the other, we will have responsible Government, reporting to society; and a Parliament. This way we can keep ourselves from a dictatorship."

At the beginning of 2013, Bakov and writer Andrey Matveyev presented their book Idols of Power: from Cheops to Putin. In the book, the authors claim that they found power in the modern Russian Federation and in the former Soviet Union to be the result of the reconstruction of an ancient pagan cult, and monarchy gives them the only constructive direction for Russian politics to move in. In Bakov's words, the work on this book, where they were studying the nature of power and summarizing their political experience, led them to these conclusions and resulted in the creation of the party. Bakov describes the party as being different from other parties because: "The fundamental characteristic of the Monarchist Party -what makes us different from all others - is that we are not a democratic party. We support monarchical governance, not republican. Nowadays, most Russians have liberal doctrines installed in their minds that state that a person is master of his destiny, that people can elect power that will accomplish all what it is told to. This is the myth of the 99%. Our Party tries to expose that".[6]

In June 2013, the party announced its candidate for the throne: it proclaimed the German Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen who also descends from the House of Romanov and, it is claimed, recently converted to Orthodox Christianity, together with his wife, and thus became a Successor, accepting the Orthodox name Nikolai Kirillovich or Emperor Nicholas III and his wife becoming Ekaterina Fedorovna. The succession configuration is set up by pre-Revolution Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire, and the party announced Nikolai Kirillovich as the legal claimant, in accordance with them.[7] Among Russian monarchists, this attitude is called "Legitimist" and "Cyrillist"—after Cyril Vladimirovich, Grand Duke of Russia, Karl Emich's great-grandfather, and cousin of Nicholas II, who created the Imperial House in emigration, and in 1924 proclaimed himself "Emperor in Exile", and died in 1938 (Bakov believes he was killed).

In early 2016 Bakov had announced the Monarchist Party plans to organize a public trial for Lenin and Stalin, accusing them of killing millions of Russians and thus significantly slowing down the normal evolution of society and state.[8]

Nicholas III and sovereign state Imperial See

Anton Bakov and Karl Emich signing founding documents.

In early 2014 Bakov announced he views the Russian Throne (See), from the point of international law, as matters of state sovereignty (regardless of any other attributes, referring to analogues with The Holy See). He outlined that Karl Emich, upon accepting the Orthodox religion, received the right to take up this See according to the pre-Revolution Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire. Bakov proposed that the Prince should accept the Throne to form a new and independent state, and incorporate it into Bakov's promotional projects such as Monarchist Party, virtual state of Russian Empire among others. In April 2014 Bakov and Karl Emich appeared in a newspaper text and photo report[9] declaring the Prince accepted the proposals as well as the title of Emperor Nicholas III (successor to Nicholas II). In the report, Bakov emphasized that Karl Emich has been an entrepreneur for long time, but that from now on, all non-Throne related activity is barred to him. The report contained a "Manifesto of granting the Constitution to the State", signed by Nicholas III, proclaiming the formation of the sovereign state "Imperial See" aimed at consolidating all the people around the world devoted to Christian Monarchism. The See in the documents is viewed as the legacy of the first-ever Christian Roman Imperial Throne of Constantine the Great, passed through Byzantine Empire to Russian Empire and House of Romanov by religious procedures.[10] Later Bakov announced that he had purchased a plot of land in Montenegro to give the new state a location (80 ha, "twice as big as Vatican"[11]), and is in negotiations with Montenegro's authorities on the state's recognition.[12] He has also informed that Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to grant such a plot in Ekaterinburg (Bakov's residence and place of 1918 Romanov assassination) in response to Karl Emich's request[13] passed to Putin by Bakov, a former MP.[14] In early 2015, as a follow-up to the International sanctions during the Ukrainian crisis, Bakov told the press there are talks with Montenegro authorities to establish an offshore zone at this plot, aimed at providing financial intermediation to Russian companies.[15] Also in early 2015 Imperial Throne representatives were in talks with the authorities of the neighboring Republic of Macedonia and Albania on possible collaboration and future state recognition. In particular, Bakov held meeting with Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.[16] Later there were the alike talks with President of Gambia Yahya Jammeh at the 70th UN General Assembly session in USA.[17] Also, talks were held with Macedonian and Montenegro Eastern Orthodox clergy — Bakov discusses creation of churches associated with Imperial Throne and proposes canonization of Russian ancient ruler Ivan III and his wife Sophia Palaiologina, of Macedonian origin, who played significant roles in bringing Christian monarchy to Russia.[18]

In the end of 2015, Nicholas III, commemorating Bakov's fiftieth anniversary, granted Bakov the inheritable title of Serene Prince and presented him a Romanov family Eastern Orthodox icon depicting Saint Catherine, who is considered the Heavenly Patron of Ekaterinburg city.[19]

Activities

Monarchist consolidation

On February 1, 2013 the party held a monarchist congress in Paris, France, where representatives of several Russian monarchist movements gathered to discuss further developments.[4] The Presidium for the Russian Monarchist Movement was created, with representatives of monarchist organisations being invited to join. It is believed that such gatherings will continue in the future. The party has set up a status of "Imperial Dynasty Member" for people from House of Romanov, and offered a reward of 2000 Euros per month for those of them who claim for it "as a sign of respect to people who did many things for Russia, but their properties in Russia were stolen and relatives who left in Russia were killed".[20]

Memorials

The party proposes to set up a guard of honour at the Grand Ducal Burial Vault in St. Petersburg where Cyril Vladimirovich together with his spouse are buried, and to assign funds to finish the reconstruction of the complex. In May 2013 the party organized in Ekaterinburg the creation of a large portrait-monument dedicated to Empress Ekaterina I after whom the city is named. Ekaterina has not been memorialized in the city since the beginning of Soviet times, when the city was renamed Sverdlovsk. This monarchical event coincided with the 400th anniversary of Romanov House. Also discussed were plans for a memorial to Karl, Prince of Leiningen, who died in 1946 in Soviet captivity. He was the husband of Grand Duchess Maria Kirillovna and Prince Karl Emich's grandfather.

Objects of interest

In early 2013, the party founded the Imperial Palace Fund aimed at re-creating the three ancient imperial palaces in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Ekaterinburg (Podzorny Palace, Srednerogatsky Palace and Belovezhsky Palace). They are supposed to be re-built according to older blueprints not on their historical grounds but at locations suitable to attract tourists. It is also proposed that they be used as homes for descendants of the Romanovs on their visits to Russia, and for general popularization of monarchism. On September 4, 2013, the ceremonial cornerstone for the copy of Belovezhsky palace was laid near Ekatrinburg. The stone had been taken out from the ruins of the original palace in modern Białowieża, Poland.[21][22]

The party, under the signature of Nikolai Kirillovich, has sent a letter to Vladimir Putin asking him to assign a plot of land in the city of Ekatrinburg to establish a "Vatican analogue"—a city-state called "All-Russian Imperial Throne" aimed also to attract tourists and to correct the primary image of the city as the place of Tsar family assassination.[23]

Elections

Ekaterinburg Senate session, senator Kirill Formanchuk talks about traffic issues.

The party participated in mayoral elections in Ekaterinburg on September 8, 2013. The candidate for mayor was Bakov's 22-year-old daughter Anastassia, a singer and actress living in Moscow who recently graduated from Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute. She campaigned using references to the city authorities' performance and to God (who is the keeper of monarchy and protector of the people). Also there, 57 students ran as the party's candidates for elections for City Duma.[24]

In 2015 Bakov announced the Party's plans to run for upcoming 2016 Russian State Duma elections.[25] In early 2016 in an interview with RBC news agency,[26] he confirmed this intention and informed that Anastassia will again become the front person of the planned campaign, and he personally will not run.

Ekaterinburg Senate

The Ekaterinburg Senate is an independent civil body organized by Bakov aimed to provide social control for official Ekaterinburg authorities such as the City Duma (Council). It was created shortly after the 2013 elections. So far, six sessions have been held, where several infrastructure and social projects were presented (some included direct interaction with officials). Up to 100 volunteer "senators" are active at these sessions (such as Kirill Formanchuk). Bakov had announced plans to form the-alike Senates in other Russian cities[27] as well as in the Imperial See.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Pensioners, Monarchists Organize Political Parties — RIA Novosti, April 09, 2012
  2. ↑ New parties emerging — Voice of Russia, Apr 7, 2012
  3. ↑ (Russian) Список политических партий, имеющих право в соответствии с Федеральным законом от 11.07.2001 № 95-ФЗ «О политических партиях» принимать участие в выборах
  4. 1 2 (Russian) Монархисты подыскали России Николая III — Moskovskij Komsomolets, 16 January 2013 г.
  5. ↑ (Russian) Политическая партия «Монархическая партия» — Russian Ministry of Justice registry data
  6. ↑ (Russian) Антон Баков: Ройзман – это не человек, а мифический персонаж — «Регионы России», 09.2013
  7. ↑ (Russian) n:ru:Монархическая партия объявила об обретении наследника российского Императорского престола — Russian Wikinews, 11.06.2013
  8. ↑ (Russian) n:ru:Монархическая партия устроит публичный суд над Лениным и Сталиным — Russian Wikinews, 18.02.2016
  9. ↑ (Russian) Империя – наше прошлое и будущее? — "Регионы России", 10.04.2014
  10. ↑ (Russian) n:ru:Виртуальная «Российская империя» с одобрения Николая III обретает государственный суверенитет — Russian Wikinews, 15.04.2014
  11. ↑ (Russian) http://www.gosrf.ru/news/14811/
  12. ↑ (Russian) Четвертый канал - stend-guest
  13. ↑ (Russian) n:ru:Претендент на российский престол предлагает создать в Екатеринбурге аналог Ватикана — Russian Wikinews, 23.07.2014
  14. ↑ (Russian) Гость «Стенда» – Антон Баков, Председатель Монархической партии России. — 2.06.2014
  15. ↑ (Russian) n:ru:В Черногории создаётся антикризисный пророссийский офшор — Russian Wikinews, 11 February 2015
  16. ↑ http://imperor.net/en/latest-news/archchancellor-of-imperial-throne-anton-bakov-met-with-the-prime-minister-of-the-republic-of-macedonia/
  17. ↑ http://imperor.net/en/gambian-press-welcomes-archchancellor-of-imperial-throne-a-a-bakov/
  18. ↑ (Russian) http://www.gosrf.ru/news/19169/
  19. ↑ (Russian) n:ru:Монархическая партия собралась на выборы в Госдуму — Russian Wikinews, 29.01.2016 г.
  20. ↑ (Russian) Монархический конгресс — 4 канал, 13.02.2013
  21. ↑ (Russian) Пока Баков определял мэра Белоярки, ритуальная служба вырыла ему яму. Так положено начало главной достопримечательности Урала. Цыганскому поселку и не снилось! — Ура.ру, 04.09.2013
  22. ↑ (Russian) Антон Баков строит императорский дворец — Коммерсантъ, 05.09.2013
  23. ↑ (Russian) n:ru:Претендент на российский престол предлагает создать в Екатеринбурге аналог Ватикана — Russian Wikinews, 23.07.2013
  24. ↑ (Russian) «Путину с ней поговорить будет приятнее». В Екатеринбурге начался новый этап предвыборной агитации. Она обещает быть шаловливой и оригинальной — Ura.ru, 29.07.2013
  25. ↑ (Russian) http://www.znak.com/moscow/articles/21-07-18-05/104207.html
  26. ↑ (Russian) http://ekb.rbc.ru/ekb/interview/28/01/2016/56a9c8089a794788ce6d959a
  27. ↑ (Russian) n:ru:Екатеринбургский Сенат готовится стать общероссийским — Russian Wikinews, 10.12.2013
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