Experts draw attention to the connection of this war criminal with the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation, and his service to it.
Girkin’s arrest
The Russian Investigative Committee arrested Girkin on July 21, and he will remain in custody until September 18 under the extremist amendment (extremism charge).
The wife of the terrorist Miroslava Reginskaya said that representatives of the Sledkom of the Russian Federation detained Girkin at his home in Moscow. The ex-“DNR” himself unsuccessfully tried to prove in court that he did not pose a great danger regarding flight due to the verdict of the Hague Tribunal (in the case of the downing of flight MH17), but the court cited Girkin’s notoriety and “connections in law enforcement agencies” as reasons for his immediate imprisonment.
Girkin’s lawyer, Alexander Molokhov, alleged that Russian law enforcement agencies were prosecuting him for messages on Telegram dated May 25, which reportedly referred to non-payment of Russian military personnel of the 105th and 107th airborne regiments.
Court documents, however, indicate that Russian authorities filed a case against Girkin on July 18, the day he published several scathing criticisms of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Criticism of Putin, “Wagnerites” and conflict with “patriots”
At the same time, ISW analysts point out that Girkin often criticized Putin before July 18, but his past criticisms did not lead to his arrest.
Members of Girkin’s “Angry Patriots Club” gathered for a small protest in front of the courthouse demanding his release. Some sources claimed that the arrest of the terrorist and blogger followed his conflict with another member of the Angry Patriots Club over the Wagner PMC.
Other sources suggested that the Wagnerists’ complaints about Girkin might have provoked his arrest. One source claimed that the arrest was related to the Russian government’s crackdown on “patriots” considered disloyal to Putin.
FSB and Girkin
The report also said that Girkin’s arrest follows other criminal charges against ultranationalists with a history of ties to the Russian security services and “indicates that unknown Russian officials may be targeting prominent ultranationalists who routinely disclose insider information about the Kremlin.”
The ISW believes that Girkin is likely supported by an unknown law enforcement official – possibly the FSB – who promoted his interests by using the terrorist as a “channel for disclosing selected information to the Russian ultra-nationalist Internet community.”
Key takeaways:
Russian insider sources have claimed that Girkin’s arrest is part of an effort by the Russian presidential administration to crack down on select high-ranking ultra-nationalists in the aftermath of an armed uprising by Wagner PMC founder Yevgeny Prigozhin on June 24. The “Wagnerite” uprising has likely shifted the balance of power in the Kremlin, potentially removing some patrons, including patron Girkin, from Putin’s good graces and therefore some of their power. The Russian Federation launched missile and drone strikes on southern Ukraine for the fourth night on July 21 after Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The Kremlin appears to be trying to soften the July 19 statement by the Russian Defense Ministry that civilian ships in the Black Sea are regarded as “legitimate military targets.” The Russian Federation is maneuvering to retain its ability to change the current deal rather than negotiate an entirely new one as it seeks to woo broad concessions from the West. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin continued his attempts to sow divisions within NATO and between Ukraine and NATO, which were likely aimed at supporting the Kremlin’s Black Sea Grain Initiative efforts and undermining long-term Western support for Ukraine. On July 21, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continued counter-offensive operations in at least three sectors of the front, and achieved success in some sectors. Sources of Wagner supporters continue to express loyalty to the founder of this PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, as the future of the group and Prigozhin’s role in the organization remain unclear. French presidential adviser on foreign policy Emmanuel Bonn was likely referring to dual-use technology and non-lethal assistance when he spoke on July 21 about equipment supplied by China to Russia. A Russian blogger associated with the Russian Airborne Forces said that recent rumors about the dismissal of the commander of the 7th Guards Mountain Division of the Airborne Forces, Major General Alexander Kornev, are false. Russian troops have been offensive in the areas of Kupyansk, Kremennaya, Bakhmut and on the Avdiivka-Donetsk line, and have reportedly advanced in the areas of Kupyansk and Kremennaya. The Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted counter-offensive operations in the Bakhmut area, at the Kupyansk-Svatovo-Kremennaya and Avdeevka-Donetsk line, advanced in the Bakhmut area. Russian troops conducted limited ground attacks in western Donetsk Oblast, western Donetsk and eastern Zaporozhye Oblasts, and south of Orekhov, and reportedly advanced south of Orekhov. Ukrainian forces conducted counter-offensive operations in the sector in the west of the Donetsk region – the east of the Zaporozhye region, and in the west of the Zaporozhye region, and also achieved success in the sector west of the Donetsk region – east of the Zaporozhye region. Russian officials have announced that they will amend the State Duma’s bill, originally intended to gradually raise the draft age, to immediately raise the upper age limit for the draft cycle in the spring of 2024. The Russian occupation “authorities” continue to resettle Ukrainian children from the occupied regions of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. A source associated with the Wagner PMC said that the mercenaries temporarily moved their headquarters from Molkino, Krasnodar Territory, to Belarus, and that the work of the group to transfer combat experience to the Belarusian military is in full swing.
Detention and further arrest of Girkin
Recall that on July 21, the Russian media began to write about the arrest of a terrorist, the former leader of the militants Igor Girkin. This information was confirmed by his wife.
According to the woman, representatives of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation came to Girkin’s apartment, they detained him.
The reason was suspicions of extremism, he was accused under Art. 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
Later, a court in Moscow decided to arrest the former militant leader until September 18. Girkin asked for another measure of restraint and complained of health problems.
According to Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Girkin’s detention in Russia indicates that an active confrontation has begun between the Kremlin towers.
2023-07-22 02:44:57
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