On the 18th of May Ukrainian journalist Dmitriy Gordon had an interview with a former officer of Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russian Federation Igor Girkin (Strelkov), who actively participated in the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and military aggression in the east of Ukraine. The precedent, set by the journalist, has caused an extremely negative reaction of Ukrainian society as it was considered as illegal and immoral action, to ask a terrorist, who has blood of hundreds of Ukrainian citizens on his hands, to comment on the issue.
In this interview Igor Girkin did not say anything new, but affirmed well-known massages produced by Moscow, claiming that the conflict in the east of Ukraine is a civil war, but not an intervention; that Russia is not a participant, and the armament, as well as equipment, was captured by pro-Russian separatists during the military operations.
Interlocutors brought up a topic of the catastrophe of civil jet MH17, downed in sky above Donbass region in July 2014. Girkin, who was in charge of armed pro-Russian separatists at that time, claimed that he feels being in some way responsible for the accident. He said: “Since I was in charge of militias and participated in that conflict directly, I feel moral responsibility for these deaths.” However, he strongly denies of being personally involved in destruction of the passenger jet. Such a statement is in line with strategy of Russia, which has been financing militants of so-called LPR/DPR, providing them with armament over six years and traditionally disclaims being participant of military conflict in Ukraine. Although, the investigation ascertained that the missile, that downed the jet, was launched from the territory of self-proclaimed “DPR”, controlled by separatists; Buk missile system, that targeted MH17, was operated by Russian citizens; the launcher itself is in service with 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile brigade of Russian army and was delivered on the occupied territory from Russia. The investigation team also has a record of negotiations between separatists, held at the moment of the tragedy: they joyfully announced that they have just managed to down Ukrainian military jet. After it turned out that instead of military one, a civil jet was downed, series of versions and mad theories of the events appeared in Russian mass media. For six years since the accident has happened, by all means Russia has tried to distance itself from the involvement in the tragedy, to discredit the results of the investigation, and lay the blame on Ukraine.
Let’s talk about Igor Girkin, a Russian citizen, on the 3rd of February the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service has charged him and other three individuals with the crime. Commenting on possible subpoena and the accusations, Girkin denied his guilt and strongly refused to give evidence before the court, even if he would be delivered there by force.
In general, the terrorist disregards international institutions and feels being invulnerable. That is not surprising. Russia is still not punished for committed crimes – for the war in Ukraine and bombardment of civil facilities in Syria. That is why the executive of the orders of Russian officials, dismissed from formal control over the terrorists in winter 2014, has nothing to worry about. He lives in Russian capital, occasionally appears on TV, has often been invited for an interview.
It should be mentioned that unpunished evil tends to reoccur. However, with much more serious spread.
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