Siberia, protest, and politics

A Sakha shaman named Alexander Gabyshev gained prominence between 2018 and 2020 after calling Vladimir Putin an authoritarian demon. Using the internet and a protest march, he critiqued Russia's corrupt society and attracted multiethnic supporters, becoming a civic society leader. This article explains his popularity and why he became a threat to Russian authorities, especially Orthodox elites. His repression is compared to Robin Hood, Amerindian religious movements, and Russia's politicized psychiatric hospitalization. The author argues that anthropologists, through long-term fieldwork, must expose human rights violations, and views Gabyshev's potential martyrdom as an indicator of Russia's political and social fragility.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract After a spiritual epiphany, the Sakha shaman Alexander Gabyshev became prominent in 2018–2020 by calling Vladimir Putin an authoritarian demon. Critiquing Russia's corrupt society through the internet and a protest march, Alexander rose to civic society leadership with multiethnic sympathizers. This article explains why Alexander became popular, and how he became a threat to Russia's authorities, especially influential Russian Orthodox elites. Alexander's repression is placed in comparative contexts: Robin Hood, Amerindian religious movements, Russia's politicized abuse of psychiatric hospitalization. It examines the relationship among indigeneity, dissidence, and the state in times of trouble, highlighting the ethical need for anthropologists, through long-term and in-depth fieldwork, to expose human rights violations interpreted as changeable. The author views Alexander's potential martyrdom as an indicator of Russia's political and social fragility.