ABSTRACT
Although Ukraine, Georgia and Estonia differ in many regards, they are linked in the consciousness of the majority of Russians as “traitors”. The states indicated are the “black sheep” of the former Soviet republics and arouse in Russian citizens many negative emotions. The “betrayal syndrome” that burdens Moscow’s relations with Kiev, Tbilisi and Tallinn in large part result from the specific nature of the three nationalisms which, for historical, cultural and political reasons formed in opposition to the Russian element and have to a large extent an “anti-Russian” character (sovereignty means mainly emancipation from Russian influence and exhibiting “non-Russian” elements of their traditions). The perception of these states as members of a sort of anti-Russian camp is corroborated by an initiative of the group Nashi, which announced the organization of an event in Moscow in connection with April Fool’s Day, in which passers-by would be able to throw a shoe at the portraits of four politicians on display. It is no coincidence that in this group, besides the ever unpopular George W. Bush, were the president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, the Ukrainian leader Viktor Yushchenko, and the prime minister of Estonia, Andrus Ansip. According to the explanations of Nashi’s commissar, Mariya Drokova, the boots were intended for “Bush’s regents who made political capital out of mud-slinging against Russia, stirring up anti-Russian sentiments and thoughtless provocations directed against our state”.1
