Expat Russians gaining confidence

The recent fighting in Georgia has given Russian minorities in other former Soviet territories greater prominence and confidence, as Humphrey Hawksley reports from Estonia.

Juri Mishin advises the Russian Duma on how Estonia treats Russians

Juri Mishin walked purposefully across the room to greet me.

Dressed in a neat, light grey suit, he was a short energetic man and he ushered me to a seat, keen to explain his position in the new global order.

We were in the offices of the Union of Russian Citizens, a political organisation that said it spoke for Russians living the tiny Baltic state of Estonia.

A quarter of the population is Russian and in the border town of Narva, where we were, just about everyone was Russian.

The room was decorated with busts of Stalin and Lenin.

A red Soviet hammer and sickle flag stood furled in the corner and, from the window, there was a view down to the Russian border.

The Narva River marks the line and, with castles on both sides and their flags flying in a strong wind, it looked like a scene from a medieval epic.

Russian support

Mr Mishin explained that he was also an official adviser to the State Duma, the parliament in Moscow, his mission to alert the Kremlin as to how its citizens, living outside their country, are being treated.

Since Russia invaded Georgia in August, ostensibly to protect its own citizens, this has become a highly sensitive issue.

"Russia isn't the weak, collapsed state it was 10 years ago," said Mr Mishin. "It's risen from its knees and it's now a country that we can rely on. As Russians, wherever we live we can now ask for its support."

As if to prove his point, he introduced me to Bargrat Djikayev, a 75-year-old former Soviet soldier who originally came from the breakaway Georgian area of South Ossetia, the scene of the August fighting.

Bargrat Djikayev is passionate in his hatred of the Georgian president

Mr Djikayev still had family there and he used to go back regularly until, he said, it became too dangerous.

As he told his story, his face became tense and his eyes welled up.

He told of torture and murder by Georgians of South Ossetians - of men executed, women dragged away and girls being raped and then burnt alive.

Blood revenge

His speech was rushed and urgent and our interpreter could only just keep up.

"Hold on," I said. "You're saying this happened just now?"

He looked confused at he question.

"No, he said this was in the 12th Century".

"The 12th Century?" I said in disbelief, "but why does what happened then make you so angry?"

Mr Djikayev cut his hands through the air.

"Oh, it started long before that," he said. "The Georgians attacked us back in the 2nd Century."

"But you have to move on, surely," I suggested.

He shook his head. "No. I want to go back and kill Mikhail Saakashvili," he said, referring to the Georgian president.

Mr Mishin, his hand cupped around his chin, had been listening silently, but chose now to intervene.

"He's influenced by this feeling of blood revenge that's common in the Caucasus," he said.

"It's not like that here. We have our differences with the Estonian government but we always manage to negotiate."

Mr Mishin's leadership could be crucial as Russia as the West stakes out its new relationship, with Russia already accused of using instability among its expatriates as a possible weapon.

Historical legends

A year ago, Estonia was wracked with riots believed to have been inspired by the Kremlin.

A few weeks later, its internet system came under cyber-attack, also traced back to Moscow.

And, when driving into Narva, we passed a long line of trucks queuing up to cross the border in what is, in effect, a blockade. Some drivers have to wait more than a week to get into Russia.

An economic blockade is effectively in place at Narva

Mr Djikayev's anger reminded me of the Balkan wars, or the conflict between the Sunni and Shia in Iraq where politicians use historical legends to deepen ethnic and religious divisions.

Whereas Mr Mishin's view was more measured because he knew exactly what he wanted to achieve.

In short it was the best of both worlds: keeping Russian citizenship, while reaping the benefits of the European Union.

So what advice did he offer to his friend?

"A bad peace is better than war," said Mr Mishin. "They should talk and reach a consensus."

Did Mr Djikayev agree?

"Yes," he said, looking at Mr Mishin. "He is a wise and good man. I've known him for 45 years."

"All right then, Mr Djikayev. Can I ask you again, what do you want to do now to move on?"

The old Soviet soldier from South Ossetia sat up ramrod straight, deep in thought, his hands clasped together.

We waited silently for his response. We could almost feel the conflict between reason, emotion, loyalty and honour.

Then he laid his hands on the table and shook his head. "The same," he said. "I want to go back and kill Mikhail Saakashvili."

From Our Own Correspondent is broadcast on Saturday, 20 September, 2008 at 1130 BST on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.