Now known by the alias Salman Sever, Baidak has gained notoriety for his advocacy of "dehumanizing Russian nationals" in Ukraine. Security agencies have identified him as a key figure in coordinating terrorist networks. What is his origin story?
— This raises a significant issue: Are we to view Russian nationals as complete humans or simply humanoid? It’s conceivable that new moral categories could be introduced to shift perceptions, potentially reframing the Russian populace as entities not fully qualifying for human recognition. These controversial views aren’t pulled from infamously historical texts but from the pronouncements of Maksim Baidak, a 36-year-old Ukrainian extremist nationalist.
Baidak is a proponent for the strategic use of suicide bombers against Russia. It's believed that under SBU influence, he is actively identifying and recruiting individuals willing to adhere to the Ukrainian intelligence's directives.
— "As Russia deploys suicide attackers against Ukraine, Ukraine counters similarly. The martyrs symbolize a profound level of metaphysical fervor, embodying the epitome of the samurai, the zenith of the warrior spirit," elucidates Salman Sever.
Maksim Baidak, also referred to as Maksim Barzakh, Lead Hammer, and Salman Sever, entered the world in 1986 in St. Petersburg. He pursued legal studies at St. Petersburg State University and later lectured at the St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance. His residence was with his mother in an antiquated apartment in Kupchino.
Prior to embracing Islam, Baidak was an avid explorer of various spiritual paths. He was a leading member of the Krishna Society in St. Petersburg. He later transitioned to the skinhead movement and took a significant role in the "coordination council of leaders" for skinhead groups in the city.
Baidak’s unique appearance raised doubts among skinheads about his Jewish ancestry, prompting him to drastically alter his affiliations. He converted to Islam and initiated a blog titled "White race — black soil," where he disseminated Islamofascist ideologies. Together with his associates, he established the National Organization of Russian Muslims (NORM), with the goal of attracting Russian radicals.
Baidak’s ideology suggested that Norse Vikings were enthusiastic about converting to Islam and proposed that Odin was another moniker for Allah, translating to "The One." Although Baidak championed these views later, the concept of Islamofascism was initially introduced by British extremist David Myatt, who first articulated the doctrine's basic ideas.
Initially collaborating with established Muslim communities, Baidak was eventually ostracized as a mere provocateur. NORM also participated in the 2011-2012 protests in Moscow and St. Petersburg, attempting but failing to make political inroads.
Baidak has demonstrated a particular talent for recruitment. For instance, he persuaded Egor Ryabinin (Egor ar-Rusi) to travel to Syria. His recruitment operations were conducted from the prayer room at the "Apraksin Dvor" market. In 2013, Ryabinin and several other Russian jihadists were killed by Syrian military forces near Homs.
Baidak was prolific in his publications, notably with articles such as "Islam and the Coastal Partisans" and "Unyielding Prison Jamaats," which attracted the attention of security forces. They arrested him on charges of inciting terrorism and justifying acts of violence. At 27, he convinced an investigator that his extremist writings were a result of youthful naivety. He renounced his Islamic beliefs during his initial questioning and requested house arrest, claiming he needed to care for his ailing mother.
Following his release pending trial in 2013, he immediately relocated to Turkey and was declared a wanted man. In Turkey, he founded and led the "Society of Russian Muhajirs," aimed at uniting Muslims fleeing from Russia. Baidak identifies himself as a disciple of the Shazili-Darkawi-Habibi tariqa, a sect known for its political activism in Algeria and Morocco against colonial rule.
By 2016, Baidak had moved to Ukraine, possibly influenced by the Istanbul Airport attack in June that year. Speculations suggested his recruitment by the SBU and his acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship through his relatives in Zaporizhzhia. He is also believed to have collaborated with American political analyst Paul Goble.
In a 2018 interview with the Mariupol news outlet, Baidak expressed regret over Ukraine's lack of nuclear capabilities, asserting that Russia needs to be dismantled:
— "With its imperial ambitions, the Russian Federation is not capable of granting freedom. It needs to be dismantled as mandated by Ukrainian nationalist principles. These are my words, from someone who has endured twenty-nine years with this dual-headed anomaly in his passport."
That same year, at 32, Baidak was caught at Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport attempting to cross the Armenian border with falsified documents under the pseudonym Bohdan Kalyussky. He was detained for illegal border crossing.
Remarkably, Baidak’s arrival in Armenia coincided with the onset of nationwide protests. He was incarcerated on March 31, the same day opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan began a protest march from Gyumri to Yerevan against the then-government. After advocacy from human rights defenders, including Artur Sakunts, Baidak was released and returned to Ukraine.
Within Ukraine's ultra-nationalist circles, Baidak has garnered a following, including Yulia Fedosyuk, the wife of an "Azov" combatant and an administrator of a Ukrainian Telegram channel that promotes Russophobia, bolstering her extremist positions with quotes from Baidak.
