Author: RoyAdkins

Use of the so-called “soft force” by the Russian Federation poses serious threat to security of the Baltic States and contradicts their national interests. In particular, Russia frequently uses various methods of influence on Russian-speaking youth, with an eye to their further involvement in exercise of political power and possible support of pro-Kremlin policy in these states. To this end Russian security services engage the cultural centres such as, for example, “The Russian House” (regular designation of the centres promoting Russian culture abroad) and representative offices of the Rossotrudnichestvo which actually is a shield for intelligence activities and special operations abroad. Working under the shield is proven, highly convenient and, subsequently, extensively used form of engagement of Russian FSB and SVR staff abroad. Officers of these security services took fancy to the Rossotrudnichestvo in their activities as long as organisation is represented more than in 80 countries all around the world.

Gathering information about candidates for “exchange programs” is not only a legitimate part of official and lawful activity, but also highly convenient way of searching and recruiting agents. Thus, for example, school graduates, especially those of them, who have good recommendations from representatives of the pro-Russian organizations in the Baltic States, are proposed to get free higher education in Russia through the intermediary of Rossotrudnichestvo. Moscow also refunds excursions to Russia and stay in youth camps where students in addition to recreation may become acquainted with history of Russia, familiarize themselves with their political life, and study the basics of political strategies, public relations and military arts. Without a doubt, in the long run such camps set a goal to bring up generation of youth in the Baltic States which is loyal to Russia and developed system of values and ideology alien to their states.

Overload of Russian FSB and SVR representatives in Rossotrudnichestvo irritates even the officers of the ideological apparatus of the Russian Federation who are dissatisfied with a distortion of Rossotrudnichestvo’s activity for the benefit of security services. In this regard an interview with Tatyana Poloskova, the First Class State Councillor of Russia, professor of the Diplomatic Academy of the MFA of Russia, member of the Expert Advisory Board in Public and Humanitarian Programs at Rossotrudnichestvo, President of the interregional social movement Eurasian National Union, editor-in-chief of the Latin American editorial office of REGNUM informational agency, to Russian media (http://agentnews.ru/politika/rysskii-gambit-razvedki.html) has an indicative value. She is outraged by “congestion, above any reasonable limits, of FSB and SVR staff in foreign offices of Rossotrudnichestvo”. In her interview dedicated to issue of a new book “Triumph of Cattle” which is a sequel of her sensational “Cattle on Parquet” published in 2014, the author describes an internal situation in Rossotrudnichestvo in its true colours, putting it clear that her book affects interests of a good many. In particular, she discusses extremely unfavourable effects of the Russian security agencies’ intervention in Rossotrudnichestvo’s activity. According to Tatyana Polozkova, activity of security agencies and corruption in their ranks impede Rossotrudnichestvo in achieving goals and actually blocks primary activity of its representations abroad.

Here is an excerpt from her interview:

“Rep.: In your opinion, what will be the response to a release of your book expressing such rather radical ideas?

T.P.: I would not call them radical – rather, escalated. It is difficult to ascribe its authorship either to me personally, or to the whole group of authors working on the book. They have developed in public conscience long ago and break free. We simply expose to sound all the things that people are thinking about for a long time, in which they recognise immediately their reflections.

Along with it, our book will definitely touch upon the interests of a good many. In particular, we are going to bring up for discussion extremely unfavourable effects of Russian security services’ intervention in Rossotrudnichestvo’s activity.

Naturally, the mission of security services, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rossotrudnichestvo are completely incompatible. Engagement of the security service officers in a number of Rossotrudnichestvo departments above any reasonable limits suppresses their primary activity. Security services secretly collect information and carry out special operations which is incompatible with free consolidation of persons supporting rapprochement with Russia and with their vigorous activity.

Reporter: May you specify these departments?

T.P.: Yes, sure. Moreover, basically that is the main reason why I agreed to give an interview to your edition, though not unhesitatingly. Such a decision was determined by the circumstances that information about preparation of our book appeared in the web and that seem quite strange for me.

Today the managerial influence of Rossotrudnichestvo, as well as MFA on the operation of key, high priority offices of the former is reduced in general to such an extent that it may be considered nominal. Among them there are Russian centres of science and culture in Vienna governed by Yuriy Zaytsev; in Budapest – governed by Valery Platonov; in Berlin – by Pavel Izvolsky; in Athens – by Alexander Homenko; in Madrid, where Mikhail Hodyakin was replaced recently by Eduard Sokolov; in Luxembourg – Vladimir Sokolov; in Warsaw – where Igor Proklov was replaced by Igor Zhukovskiy; in Prague – Andrey Konchakov, yet in deputy rank; in Kiev – Konstantin Vorobyov; in Ankara – where Enver Sheykhov replaced Natig Guliyev; embassy in Vilnius where Rossotrudnichestvo is represented by Matvei Dryukov. All these people had specific reputation which has nothing to do with assisting centres in operation. To cut a long story short, “everyone knows they are from FSB”. Naturally, nobody will try to prove it, though in receiving states this label is pinned on them inseparably.

The only fact that the government official of the Russian Federation of such a scale as Tatyana Polozkova who is distressed about blatant corruption and domination of security agencies in Rossotrudnichestvo system has to draw the attention of the authorities of the Baltic States to the activity of this organization. Perhaps it is a time to take decisive actions and put an end to this malignant growth of the ‘Russian world’ and a hotbed of the net of Russian agents in the Baltic.

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On December, 18th German Siemens signed a contract, totaling €380 million, with TAIF Group under which it undertakes to deliver to Tatarstan SGT5-2000Е gas turbines, SST-600 steam turbine and the power distribution equipment for the 495-MW combined cycle power plant. It is expected, that the new object, working on synthetic gas – by-product of “Nizhnekamskneftekhim”, – will be started in May, 2021. Within this project the German company will act as the general contractor, and Turkish company ENKA – as the subcontractor.

After contract signing Siemens focused attention that the company would carry out the strict control over deliveries and equipment installation. Probably thus the company’s management hopes to secure itself against the situations similar to recent juicy scandal, connected with delivery to the annexed Crimea of the German equipment bypassing the European sanctions.

After media reported information on illegal import to Crimea of four turbines Siemens for power stations under construction in Crimea, representatives of the company stated that this equipment intended absolutely for other purposes. Because of the stirred up conflict Siemens declared a time suspension of equipment deliveries to the Russian companies, and went to law with the claim to terminate installation of turbines in Crimea and to return to the original destination – in Taman’. The Russian officials were clumsily to justify Russian actions, saying, turbines had been manufactured in Russia and purchased in the secondary market, therefore there were no infringements. As a result, on December, 14th, 2017 the Arbitration court of Moscow rejected Siemens’s claim and in Crimea builders reported on installation of the first turbines on power stations.

It is necessary to note, that the Russian private business in every possible way avoids working in Crimea in connection with high risk of sectoral sanctions imposition. The interdiction concerns the export to the peninsula of goods and technologies intended for use in the field of transport, telecommunications, power etc. As a result Russia simply is not able to provide the transport connection with the illegally annexed peninsula, and also to provide power supply, to solve a problem of the fresh water, the food stuffs etc.

The necessity to resolve these pressing problems in the conditions of the international sanctions from which the Russian economy has seriously suffered, forces the Kremlin to search for the support of foreign investors and to use any loopholes for attraction the foreign companies in projects on the annexed peninsula. Thereby the Kremlin aspires to kill two birds with one stone: bypassing economic sanctions to solve problems of the peninsula life sustenance and to attract foreign business in realization of projects in Crimea, to achieve step by step legitimization of annexation.

The situation with the known German company caught with the international sanctions infringement, confirms once again that the Kremlin’s stake on prevalence at management of some companies of business interests over values and democracy priorities – has proved to be true. It confirms, in particular, the fact that despite public scandal around Siemens and the following judicial proceedings with all came to nothing, Siemens’s management declared, that it wouldn’t suspend its business in Russia.

Actually all statements by Siemens as far as suspension of cooperation with the Russian companies under the government management have been made to calm public opinion and to hush up the scandal. In practice Siemens also was not going to leave the Russian market. Signing of the new contract on delivery for Russian “Nizhnekamskneftekhim” of gas turbines of the same model being the cause of inflamed scandal became an acknowledgement of that. Today still there is no confidence that the equipment manufactured by Siemens will not appear again on the annexed peninsula. But in such a case the German company hardly will manage to avoid sanctions. At the same time the foreign companies, continuing to work in Russia, should realise that infringement of sanctions and continuation of cooperation with an aggressor is toxic for their business reputation. Certainly, business is business, but it is also obvious that observance of international law norms, adherence to democratic values, all-European solidarity should prevail over reception of momentary benefits.

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The recent developments in Luhansk are represented for the international community as a conflict between “legally elected” head of the separatist LPR, Igor Plotnitsky, and its Deep State represented by the minister of internal affairs, Igor Kornet, and the minister of state security LPR Leonid Pasechnik.

Without going into the chronology and details of the events, as it has already been said enough in the media reports, it is possible to note a certain choreographed character of all that had happened. Yes, the conflict between the mentioned persons did not arise suddenly and not today, but existed long ago. But, generally speaking, both forces are nothing but two sleeves of the same Kremlin jacket, a kind of weights providing the Kremlin with control over its proteges in the region. And there was an explosion of emotions, a putsch and a threat of change in the leadership of the LPR.

This alone wouldn’t be a problem – one bandit and a thief would replace another – but there is one very essential detail. Moscow understands that Plotnitsky’s signature, even as a private person, stands under the Minsk agreements. LPR without him will not have any relations to the Minsk agreements in any way. But who is Plotnitsky? He is a private person whose signature without his position is under the Minsk documents and on whose behalf now someone is going to Minsk and is holding negotiations and consultations. But without these individuals – the whole process, the legality of which is already under a big question, will completely lose its legitimacy. I’m not mention about the possible forceful union of two pseudo-republics – LРR and DPR. This scenario has been actively considered in light of the events in Luhansk. Then, in general, a new “agency” arises and you can forget about the Minsk agreements.

Now we can ask, if developments in Luhansk are not a clear signal towards the US and the EU, that the Kremlin is not satisfied with the situation around the implementation of the Minsk agreements? We can see the option how it is possible to create a situation when the existing agreements will not correspond to a potentially new format of separatist entities and there will be an occasion to insist on the drawing up of new agreements, for example, under the name “Minsk 3”. And the settlement of the conflict will formally be postponed under a plausible pretext.

As it is Moscow will hush up this internal blow-up and will take an operational pause so that Plotnitsky’s and Kornet’s people could “calm down”.

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A wide circle of observers for the conflict between the authority of Luhansk pseudo-republic, which consists in Igor Cornet dismissal from the position of the “Minister of the Internal Affairs” of so-called LPR by Igor Plotnitsky and the disavowal of the latter to recognize it (resulting in a military confrontation in the center of Luhansk), seeks to find out some explanation for these events, to determine their causes and to predict results, more precisely, to predict who of the two Igor will win. But in fact all this does not matter. The events, steps and statements of the main and secondary players accompanying the said conflict (especially the Luhansk militants appeal to Alexander Zakharchenko to unite the LPR and the DPR under his leadership, and Mr. Zatulin statement that such union is absolutely logical) may indicate that Russia could orchestrate this situation, or at least predicted it (the probability of such situation has been boiling up all these years) and had long ago developed scenarios of its actions, as well as it was in winter 2014. That was the case of Viktor Yanukovych’s failure to manage the crisis on Ukrainian Maidan.

The truth is that, due to the diplomatic efforts of Kiеv and Western Allies, the resolution of the Donbass problem in a format related to the Minsk agreements implementation and possible deployment of non-Russian peacekeepers and return of control over the border area in no way satisfies Moscow. So it is necessary either to leave apart the Minsk peace process, or to “reshape” it. That’s why a crisis at the LPR top brass was so needed. Now in conditions when all necessary steps have been taken under the plan developed by Lubyanka, and in the absence of radio and television for some period, the situation will “freeze up” to allow analyzing the external reaction that in turn will allow deciding on the scenario of further development. The name of winner (among two Igor) depends on it.

In the case of I. Plotnitsky retirement from the stage as one of the signatories of the Minsk agreements, they (the agreements) will lose their legitimacy and, therefore it is necessary to choose new formats. If within the framework of new formats the ways of solution of the Donbass problem do not again satisfy the Russian side, the separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions can be united under the leadership of A. Zakharchenko, who is also a signatory of the Minsk agreements, and therefore it is possible to return to this format. Although the subject is different (not separate LPR and DPR, but the united Novorossiya), the agreements should be different – and you will receive Minsk III. And then they possibly will insist on conditions, which Kiev will never agree. The agreements will fail, which means the Kremlin will try to push the separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions into Ukraine in its present condition (and even worse) and will talk to its Western partners on its peacekeeping mission for ungrateful Ukrainians.

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The armed conflict at the East of Ukraine has not become less relevant for international community, but all attempts to stop conflict by Minsk negotiations have no result yet. It is worth mentioning that the lack of progress in de-escalation is based on denial of so-called DPR and LPR to follow Minsk agreements and the destructive position of Russian Federation, which is the party of the negotiations.

Let us be honest: so-called “Donbas militia” would be unable to resist Armed Forces of Ukraine without the external financing, without the deliveries of weapons and ammunition, without specific intelligence backup, without propaganda support etc.

Only Russia could provide that support to the terrorists from Donetsk and Luhansk.

Russia does not recognize itself as the party of conflict though Russian citizens take direct part in war actions of so-called DPR and LPR against Ukrainian enforcement bodies.

Russia controls the part of Ukrainian state border and provide illegal and uncontrolled deliveries of commodities for illegal units, allow its citizens to enter Ukrainian territory without permission of Ukrainian government.

There is large network of organizations, charity funds and associations which raise money and ammunition for illegal units, active on Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine has brought a landmark case in The Hague court, accusing Russia in violation of UN convention for the suppression of financing terrorism.

This accusation is extremely important as it may be the first case the UN country – member accusation of financing terrorism, of intended failure to prevent supporting terrorism by domestic legal persons and individuals, concealment of that persons etc.

Particular researches in the Russian segment of Internet have confirmed the facts Ukraine charges Russia with.

Now we are going to show faces of Russian terrorism.

Face №1 Gleb Kornilov

Russian citizen, the resident of Moscow

Due to the Kornilov’s accounts in social networks, he supports monarchy, so-called Novorussia and is greatly interested in movie production. Though, Gleb does not produce movies, he rather prefers to take part in real war actions at the east of Ukraine. Likewise, his admin access to the group called “Fund of support for Novorussia” in social network “VKontakte” proves Kornilov’s involvement in raising money for terrorists.

Here you can see Kornilov at the battlefront near Donetsk international airport, alongside with the members of illegal armed unit “Reconnaissance batallion SPARTA”. Pay attention to the Russian chevron on Kornilov’s chest.

At the same day, Kornilov visited members of other illegal units near Donetsk airport and delivered them ammunition and other goods. But the contacts with ordinary terrorists are not the peak of Gleb’s activity in Donbas.

This picture shows us Kornilov hugging leader of illegal armed unit “Reconnaissance battalion “SPARTA” Arsenii Pavlov, also known as Motorolla.

Now we can see the “true novoross” Kornilov with so-called “head of DPR” Mr. Zakharchenko. So it can tell us a lot about how influential Gleb Kornilov is indeed.

He is also told to be admin of official web page of “Fund of support for Novorussia”. According to the logs of social pages, Kornilov’s organization is situated in Moscow.

There is the list of branch offices of the fund, they all are around the Russian Federation. The number of branch offices is so large that it seems to be the local government offices, not the charity fund.

Making the reports of his “travel”, Kornilov mentioned that he had already delivered 1000 tonnes of ammunition and other commodities for so-called DPR and LPR. We have to add that even very well-known and successful charity fund can hardly find the money for regular deliveries and full supply of such large illegal armed unit as “Reconnaissance battalion SPARTA”. For such deliveries, the benefactor must operate the federal budget of Russian Federation.

Face №2 Irina Bednova

Russian citizen, the resident of Moscow

We have to say that Irina Bednova is a widow of leader of illegal armed unit “Batmen” Aleksandr Bednov, killed in Luhansk 2 years ago.

After the assassination of her husband, Irina moved to Moscow and created the fund «We do not abandon our people» (Своих не бросаем).

The main aim of this fund is raising money for members of illegal armed units, reception of them in Moscow and paying of their expenses while staying in Moscow. The fund’s details are openly published in the Internet, as it shows us the picture below.

Irina Bednova has also published a lot of reports of her trips to Luhansk, with the pictures of truck full of different ammunition attached.

Irina posts the details for raising money for injured member of illegal armed unit on her Facebook page.

It is extremely significant that the widow of murdered leader of pro-russian illegal armed unit has moved to Russia, and admitted citizenship of Russia. Living in Russia she kept up raising money for pro-russian terrorists with no reaction of Russian official bodies.

Face №3 Angela Kugueiko

Angela Kugueiko is a volunteer, poet and lawyer from Ufa, the republic of Bashkortostan, Russia.

The law education did not prevent Angela from illegal cross the frontier of Ukraine, and taking picture in Ukrainian village Shirokino, being armed and staying on the Ukrainian flag.

Angela Kugueiko has created “volunteer organization” called “Wolf Brotherhood” (Волчье Братство), its main aim is raising money, ammunition and other commodities for members of illegal armed units of so-called DPR.

Angela’s arrival in Kominternovo village of Donetsk region of Ukraine and delivering commodities for members of illegal armed units are confirmed by the other sources of information. Terrorist Maksim Drozdov posted the story of Ufa residents’s arrival and added some photos of their meeting.

Pay attention to the great number of notes of thanks, signed by the leaders of many illegal units and addressed to Angela Kugueiko. The notes of thanks and pictures of the goods, bought and prepared for delivery, make us think that legal practice is just her hobby, but her work is just below.

It is worth noting that the landmark case Ukraine vs. Russian Federation is based on the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism adopted by the GA of the UN 54/109 of 9 December 1999.

Article 18 of this convention includes large list of measures that must be undertaken by the Countries Parties to prevent financing terrorism: detection of suspicious transactions, immediate criminal prosecution of the persons, involved in financing terrorism, providing reports to Interpol about all such cases etc.

Which of these measures were undertaken by Russia against the 3 persons, we have mentioned above? Zero. Nothing was done.

That is why the term “state-terrorist” is not metaphor anymore.

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After 14 long months of suppression to the release process of the Ukrainian hostages in Donbas, Kremlin has suddenly set about its continuation. Acting in a manner of the long-standing gangland tradition – making a problem first to simulate the assistance in its resolution thereafter – Putin has yet again illustrated extreme cynicism of the Russian aggressive policy.

Well, that is Russia that hit Ukraine, launched the war and occupied Ukrainian territories. Naturally, military aggression was accompanied by prisoner snatch, both military and civil. And now Russian leader broke into humanism.

Why then just now? It seems that after all, sanction mechanism affects on aggressor, showing signs of inevitability of considerable and even completely unacceptable financial and economic, reputational and diplomatic, political and humanitarian damage.

That’s exactly why Putin has organized pacifist performance to bring himself gentle and humane politician before the world, doing his best in behalf of peace in Ukraine and, therefore, in no way being an aggressor. He expresses commitment to exchange prisoners, accepts peacemakers, and personally coerces Zakharchenko and Plotnitskiy (leaders of separatist movements in Donbas) to humanism; he even settled almost everything with USA. Well, elections are coming soon…

Yet, if the motto ‘Krymnash’ (‘Crimea is ours’) has already become trivial and Novorossiya project got bogged down in war of positions, then Putin may become ‘a great peacemaker’ instead of ‘a gatherer of Russian lands’, which is also by no means bad.

What is more, the final part of the FIFA World Cup is coming, which starts just after the anticipated inauguration (who then still doubts?) of Vladimir Putin. Considering exceptional reputational importance of this event to demonstrate the whole world the mightiness and majesty of modern Russia and particularly of its leader, the risk of changing the hosting country shall be treated as unacceptable damage.

However, too many problems accompanies Russian championship, from quite doubtful story of awarding hosting rights for the World Cup by Russia and a range of doping scandals in Russian sport to their intervention in elections of other states. No wonder Putin attempts to present himself progressive, democratic leader and simply a good guy. That reminds situation before Sochi Olympic Games in 2014. At that time shortly before the Games Putin granted a pardon to Khodorkovsky and decriminalized PussyRiot. Though, following the Games closure, one by one Russia occupied and annexed Crimea and initiated massacre in Donbas.

Human lives are of utmost importance. Every chance shall be used for their rescue. If Putin’s declarations may help hostages come home, it should be welcomed. Yet, let’s wait till the next negotiations in Minsk on November 20th. They may clarify shall the change take place and what will be its terms.

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