https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomwaffen_Division
The Atomwaffen Division, also known as the “National Socialist Resistance Front” is a far-right political and paramilitary organisation based in the US, which aims to overthrow the US government through guerrilla warfare, the group has ties to the Russian Imperial Movement and The Base (USA):
It maybe plausible that Nazzaro had some online interactions with Matthew Heimbach (Traditionalist Worker Party; TWP), who hosted Stanislav Shevchuk in 2017, or Atomwaffen Division (AWD) leaders who were beginning to forge ties with RIM (in 2018 two AWD members undertook their training in Russia) but such links are speculative.
Even if we can accept that, until just prior to the Fall of 2017 before Nazzaro left for Russia, he did not have any ties to RIM and/or Russian intelligence (being cultivated as an asset), it is highly improbable that he could not have material support by July 2018 to:
• Move with his Russian wife and daughters to St. Petersburg, Russia • Gain Russian citizenship and a passport • Live in an upscale central St. Petersburg property purchased in his wife’s name • End up in the same city where the Royal Imperial Movement (RIM) is located and ideologically align with their ‘hybrid warfare’ objectives • Found The Base, a neo-Nazi network/group focused on engaging in terrorist acts in the U.S.
Also, after The Base was founded, we know that in 2019 it shared some members with the Atomwaffen Division (AWD). That group’s cells began appearing in the U.S. in late 2015 and early 2016 and, by the time it was sharing members, it already had some direct interactions with the RIM.
- https://www.cofutures.net/post/rinaldo-nazzaro-leader-of-the-neo-nazi-terrorist-group-the-base-probable-linkages-to-rim (PDF Page 12)
One member of Atomwaffen, Andrew Oneschuk, was in contact with the Azov Movement and was encouraged on an Azov affiliated radio show to try and join the Azov Battalion, he was later killed after plotting to carry out a terrorist attack:
Bellingcat has confirmed that in January 2016, Azov, via its online podcast, was in contact with the late Andrew Oneschuk, an imminent member of the violent American neo-Nazi organization Atomwaffen Division. On Azov’s podcast, Oneschuk discussed issues facing Americans that wanted to join Azov, and expressed interest in learning methods of attracting youth to nationalism in America. He was encouraged to try to join Azov.
We now know that the American interviewed on Azov’s podcast in early 2016 was Andrew Oneschuk, an imminent member of Atomwaffen Division. The Atomwaffen Division is a “terroristic national socialist organization” (per SPLC) linked to multiple murders in the United States. Andrew, who was 16 at the time of his appearance on Azov’s podcast, went on to join AWD several months later in 2016. He, along with another AWD member, was murdered in May 2017 in Tampa, Florida by Devon Arthurs, also a member of AWD. Law enforcement reportedly found explosive materials in the apartment the three shared.
Oneschuk’s alleged murderer reportedly told detectives the men he killed planned to blow up power lines near a major highway.
This podcast recording has not been previously reported on, and Oneschuk’s family has confirmed to Bellingcat that this is his voice on the recording.
According to a Rolling Stone report, Oneschuk attempted to travel to Ukraine to join Azov in early 2015, but was thwarted when his family intervened. “I’ve been following Azov and Ukrainian nationalism since the beginning of Maidan [the revolution in Ukraine that ousted corrupt pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych],” he said at one point during the interview with Azov’s podcast.
During the interview, Oneschuk, and other Americans, were encouraged by the host to try to join Azov, when Oneschuk mentioned that some Americans had been snubbed online by members of the Azov whom they approached regarding joining the organization in Ukraine.
“On social media many people have tried to contact members of the Regiment, but most of them have been turned away for not living in a European country,” Oneschuk said.
“You can try again if you want,” the host responded, “It was just the beginning when they tried, and (Azov) weren’t very keen on accepting foreign volunteers, but the Ukrainian government passed a law that allows foreign volunteers to fight for the Ukrainian side. I think now it’s a bit easier”
American nationalists were also eager to learn from their European counterparts, according to Andrew, who told the host that a lot of Americans wanted to have “professional nationalist organizations like those coming up in Europe.”
“Finding ways to get young people into the movement would be helpful. Any examples from Europe would be welcome currently,” Andrew said at one point (00:31:00 into the interview).
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