Night Wolves Club's Influence on Kinetic Activity in Host Populations

Abstract

The presence of the Night Wolves Motorcycle Club (NWMC) increases the likelihood of kinetic activity amongst host populations, particularly in Soviet states containing significant foreign Russian populations (Harris, 2018). The NWMC conducts paramilitary trainings, motorcycle pilgrimages celebrating the Russian Orthodox Church, anti-NATO rallies and protests, all with the goal of amplifying political and social wedge issues, to undermine the majority (Harris, 2018; Tabor, 2015; Zabyelina, 2017). In this way, the NWMC acts as a proxy to the Russian state, mobilizing Kremlin support. To combat the NWMC’s influence, Canada and NATO might consider strengthening cooperative relationships between local, legitimate expatriate communities and intelligence officers (Galeotti, 2017). This could be done through community policing, as well as through the recruitment of local informants (Galeotti, 2017).