 The Mladorossi (), as they were popularly known, at first declared themselves as anti-communists.In contrast to other émigré political organizations, they argued against the idea of creating a "free Russia" on non-Russian soil, believing strongly that what they called "Soviet-occupied Russia" was the only Russia that could be in existence.The Mladorossi believed that the Soviet government, for all its negative ideology, was preserving the Russian state and defending its national interests.