Tag: LPR

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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