Figuring Out Where Nina Kouprianova's Loyalties Lie

Nina Kouprianova: Russian Spy?

The wife (estranged?) of the atheist Richard B. Spencer, Nina Kouprianova, writes extensively on Russia and has a twitter handle where she calls herself Nina Byzantina‏.

Her biography tells us that she left Russia as a young teenager and she attended high school and university in Canada, and lived in Canada before moving to the States, where she now resides. For all practical purposes, she is a Canadian/American.

It is odd that she devotes so much of her time on Russia. She seems to be presenting herself as some kind of spokeswoman for Russia, but it looks more like a glorification of the country. Why, as a Canadian/American, does she invest so much of her time on Russia? In her interviews, she talks about her expertise and academic knowledge on the subject. But her link to Russia seems more than academic (or theoretical). Her cultural and personal commentary shows that she is more than a detached observer. So what happens when things settle down in Russia (or the Ukraine)? Will she make the personal investment and move there, and live there, as a Russian? These are innocuous enough questions, but there are some asking about her Russian ties. She has previously "relocated" to Russia in 2009 to do research for her doctoral dissertation (which she completed in 2012) titled: "Revolution, Tradition, and Modernity: Russian Consumer Advertising in the Era of NEP [New Economic Policy]."

She wrote a fascinating article in the journal The Soul of the East in 2014 which she titled "Being Who We Are."

She writes as a bona fide Russian:

We will also have to examine our recent past, since we were considered a stronghold of the “global Left” in the 20th century. It would be most logical to treat the Soviet era precisely as a period in history. Otherwise, there is the impression that Lenin and Stalin are still alive ruling our lives on a daily basis. It is time to leave necropolitics behind.

The latter will help us stop looking for cravings toward Tradition, faith, and hierarchy in the Communist Party’s congresses and speeches of leaders.

Here is a photograph she took while in Russia dated on her website as 2013. It is the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, which dates back to the early 16th century.

Kouprianova is all about Russia.

I think Kouprianova's story is the usual story of contemporary immigrants who cling to their "native," past however remote it may be, and instigating the consequent, steady, erosion of European (Anglo or Franco) cultures in the US and Canada to promote their own.This is natural and desirable, but BACK IN THEIR OWN NATIONS.

But, Kouprianova has been "hijacked" by the Russian government, naively or not, (I think - strongly - the latter) , which various medias sources have noted (1, 2). And to give a "fair and balanced view," this (conservative) website calls her a Russian nationalist. Again, how can an American citizen be identified as a "Russian nationalist?"

Western Europe has historically associated cautiously with Russia. The formidable country is hard to classify as East or West, and really should hold its own geopolitical label. Russia can be an ally of the West, but it will always, and primarily, be Russian. This, I think, is what current political leaders are "confused" about. Putin will side with whomever will make him strong. And he may go beyond personal power and delve into deeply seated patriotic feelings for his country to make his decisions, but we don't know this. He may still be all about brute force.

I think that is the same context within which Kouprianova presents her commentaries and opinions. But she goes a step further and presents Russia as the promoter of white Western Europe. In this 2009 Taki Magazine article she writes:

[F]or those concerned with the “Death of West,” some comfort can be found in the fact that what is taboo in western Europe and America [promoting a blond, blue-eyed population] is a national priority in the Motherland.

This is clearly one (perhaps the only) point of similarity between her and Spencer: the promotion of white European culture within the American sociopolitical sphere.

Here is an article addressing her Russian "ties."

Nina Kouprianova, who also writes under the name Nina Byzantina, publishes articles lionizing Vladimir Putin, criticizing western media and appears on the Kremlin-funded RT network to promote anti-Ukraine talking points.

Kouprianova's personal interest based on her identity has morphed into a cultural and political obsession that it would have been called treasonous by bygone eras. Contemporary Western society, of course, will make not such commitments, which is why the likes of Kouprianova are able to flourish in our countries.

Below is a photo Nina Kouprianova recently put up of Putin on her twitter page with a shadow of a cross engraved/tattooed on his forehead.





In a post above it, she has a photo of Marine Le Pen with a cross (protruding out of her forehead).

Perhaps Koupriavona is saying that we are united through our Christianity.

I think that is a false and dangerous premise.

Countries do exist. It is not only religion (and also very different variations of the same religion) which form and unite them. And the Orthodox Church is especially region and country specific, and depends much on cultural contexts.