Maxim Martsinkevich

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Sergeyevich and the family name is Martsinkevich.

Maxim Martsinkevich
Максим Марцинкевич
Maxim Martsinkevich talks on Den TV. Russia, Moscow. September 27, 2012.
Born(1984-05-08)8 May 1984
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died16 September 2020 (aged 36)
Chelyabinsk, Russia
NationalityRussian
Other namesTesak
CitizenshipRussian
Alma materRussian State Social University (Unfinished)
Known forLeading Russian neo-Nazi and anti-gay organizations
Criminal charge(s)Incitement of racial or ethnic hatred; robbery, property destruction and hooliganism
Criminal penaltyMultiple terms, including 10 years in a strict regimen labor colony
Criminal statusDeceased
Signature

Maxim Sergeyevich Martsinkevich (Russian: Макси́м Серге́евич Марцинке́вич, 8 May 1984 – 16 September 2020), better known as Tesak (Russian for Cleaver, Hatchet, Hand Axe, Machete),[1] was a Russian neo-Nazi activist, media personality, vlogger, and the leader and co-founder of the Restruct movement which manifested in post-Soviet countries.

Tesak first gained public attention as a white power skinhead and the leader of the far-right youth group Format 18, which has been described as the "armed wing" of the National Socialist Society. There are numerous branches within Martsinkevich's Restruct movement, the most prominent of which is Occupy Pedophilia, with Tesak having stated that its goals are the promotion of national socialism, identifying the nature of liberal views, and drawing the public's attention to the issue.[2] Tesak's racism, violent approach and targeting of ethnic minorities and gay males have been criticized. On one occasion his actions have led to the imprisonment of a highly ranked official within the Russian judicial system.

Martsinkevich received three prison sentences for inciting racial or ethnic hatred. Tesak was first indicted in 2007, after disrupting political debates by performing the Nazi salute and yelling "Sieg Heil!" at a book club in Moscow.[3] In 2009, he was sentenced to three years for making a video with racist content. Martsinkevich's memories from this time in prison are expressed through his book Restruct. Following his release from prison, Tesak was unemployed, posted vlogs, and made a living by charging others for joining his "hunts for pedophiles" and for attending his lectures on life in prison, ways of shoplifting, as well as other subjects.[4] In the autumn of 2013, Tesak was indicted again for releasing new videos featuring racist remarks. As a result, on 15 August 2014, he was sentenced to five years in prison. On 11 November 2014, the court reduced the sentence to two years and 10 months.

On 27 June 2017, the Babushkinsky district court of Moscow sentenced Martsinkevich to ten years in a strict regimen corrective labor colony for his involvement in attacks targeting synthetic cannabinoids dealers.[5] During his fourth prison term, in 2020, an investigation was started about his involvement in hate killings. Martsinkevich confessed to murders and cooperated with investigating authorities, but soon he was found dead in his prison cell.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference hpost1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference lenta was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Schwirtz, Michael (19 February 2008). "Moscow's Immigrants Face Wave of Skinhead Violence". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  4. ^ Yudina, Natalia; Alperovich, Vera (12 August 2013). "The State Duma Directed Right Radicals Toward New Goals: Xenophobia, Radical Nationalism and Efforts to Counteract It in Russia during the First Half of 2013". www.sova-center.ru. SOVA Center. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  5. ^ Sokolova, Yevgeniya (27 June 2017). "Russian nationalist Martsinkevich found guilty of inciting hatred and enmity". www.rapsinews.com. RAPSI. Retrieved 27 June 2017.