From waves to war cries: How Russia uses symbolic gestures for propaganda

In recent years, Russia has increasingly capitalised on symbolic gestures to bolster its internal and external narratives. The latest incident involves a highly controversial gesture at the British Embassy in Moscow—one that, regardless of intent, appeared unmistakably as a Nazi-style salute.

The embassy incident: Reckless gesture, predictable outrage

On the eve of Russia’s solemn Day of Remembrance and Sorrow (commemorating the Nazi invasion of the USSR in 1941), Maria Zakharova, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, condemned what appeared as a clear Nazi-style salute made by artist Stepan Vishnevsky from the balcony of the British Embassy and witnessed by Moscow street audience.

“There is a man standing on the balcony of the British Embassy giving the Nazi salute. This is how he celebrates the birthday of the English king, a week before the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow!”
— Maria Zakharova, Telegram, 20 June 2025

Footage and photographs clearly showed Vishnevsky making a gesture identical to that previously performed by Elon Musk, described by The Guardian as an "apparent use of a salute banned for its Nazi links," and by Deutsche Welle as “apparently performing a Nazi-style salute.”

Regardless of Vishnevsky’s actual intent—ideological conviction, provocative humour, or misguided artistic expression—such a gesture is inevitably perceived by Russians as profoundly offensive and disrespectful.

Vishnevsky’s reckless action provided a perfect opportunity for the Kremlin’s propaganda machine.

Why this matters: Feeding the propaganda machine

Russia’s propaganda typically operates as follows:

• Identify an obvious provocative gesture.
• Amplify it as proof of widespread neo-Nazism.
• Exploit the outrage to justify what the State does internally and externally.

Such gestures—intended or accidental—fuel the Kremlin’s narratives about threats from Western liberalism, thus legitimising its aggressive policies.

Historical context: Why gestures matter in Russia

In Russia, historical memory of Nazi atrocities remains deeply significant. Gestures resembling Nazi salutes are unequivocally offensive, causing genuine public outrage. Figures like Elon Musk learned this lesson when his similarly clear gesture at a US event was widely condemned internationally, precisely because such actions leave little room for benign interpretations.

Strategic impact: Gift to the Kremlin

Incidents like Vishnevsky’s play perfectly into Russia’s strategic interests:

Dangers of symbolic provocations

Such provocative actions, intentionally or otherwise, dangerously amplify Russian narratives, eroding trust, fuelling censorship, and complicating diplomacy. Genuine democratic criticism risks being drowned out by symbolic provocations turned into propaganda weapons.

Think twice before raising your arm

Regardless of intent, symbolic gestures have real consequences. Vishnevsky’s actions, like Musk’s earlier incident, demonstrate the potential harm that thoughtless provocations cause. Democracies must avoid reckless behaviour that inadvertently strengthens authoritarian propaganda, because every careless gesture risks escalating misunderstanding into real conflict.

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