Chapman has been named head of a new subdivision within the Young Guard, the youth branch of Putin’s United Russia party…

The Young Guard is strongly pro-government, often holding street demonstrations, and was criticized in November after a Russian investigative journalist was badly beaten. Oleg Kashin, who had reported on opposition to a highway planned for a Moscow forest, was attacked on a Moscow street by unidentified assailants. Kashin had been criticized by the Young Guard on its web site. The Young Guard had published a picture of Kashin with the label “Will Be Punished,” but condemned the attack on Kashin and denied any involvement.