Compatriotism (Russian: Соотечественничество, Sootyechyestvyennichyestvo) is a political movement within the Alaskan Democratic Federative Republic which advocates closer ties with the Russian Federation and Russian-influenced Eurasia. The movement began in the early 20th Century and comprised of those who opposed giving Russian America (then an integral part of the Russian Empire) greater autonomy and regional rule. These "compatriots" (соотечественники, sootyechstvyenniki) viewed themselves similarly to the Tories of the American Revolution and valued the continued unity of the Russian Empire.