All posts tagged: Neo-nazis

Reuters (finally) realize there are Nazis in Ukraine

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by Kit Two days ago Reuters published this report, headlined “How Trump can show he’s tough on anti-Semitism”. I’m not sure why Trump – who has never been called an anti-Semite before, never publicly criticised Israel and whose daughter and son-in-law are both Jewish – suddenly needs to show he’s “tough” on anti-Semitism, but apparently he does. How is Mr Trump going to achieve this? He’s going to denounce Ukraine…because the government is endorsing fascism. For the sake of brevity I will present a bullet point list of the Ukrainian issues that so trouble the article’s author, Josh Cohen: “…local authorities [in Kiev] recently voted to rename a major street after a former Nazi collaborator and anti-Semite named Roman Shukhevych.” “In 2015, Ukraine passed a law honoring the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and its military wing, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, (OUN-UPA)” “Numerous Holocaust memorial sites – including Babi Yar, where over 33,000 Jews were slaughtered by the Nazis – have been vandalized or desecrated by anti-Semitic graffiti and swastikas.” “…the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory …

The Ustasha and the Rising Tide of Neo-Nazi Politics in Croatia

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by Nenad Dumanovic and Daniel Jankovic, Global Research, July 13, 2016 The European Union’s Balkan Double Standard Over the past several years, analysts and commentators have noticed a rising tide of domestic support for the Croatian homegrown Nazi movement of the Second World War, the Ustashe, which actively exterminated Serbs, Jews, and Roma in the territory it controlled from 1941-45. Far from condemning this alarming development, the Croatian government, the European Union, and non-state actors within it have tacitly and actively supported the rising tide of sympathy towards the Ustashe. This disconnect between the ostensible “European values” of human rights and tolerance that the European Union claims to represent, and its tacit support of trends towards extremist politics in Croatia will have a significant impact on the increasing trend of Euroscepticism in Serbia and other Balkan states. Furthermore, the Union’s unabashed condemnation of legitimate populist movements in Europe, including but not limited to the Brexit campaign, as “racist” and “xenophobic,” while quietly supporting genuinely extremist political elements will contribute to the increasingly popular perception of …

History as ghastly repetition – Anna Lindh & Jo Cox

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In 2003, just four days before the Swedish referendum on joining the Eurozone, a prominent pro-Euro MP, Anna Lindh, was stabbed to death in a public place. The man later convicted, claimed to have no idea why he had done it, and no political motive was ever suggested for the killing. Nevertheless many people predicted that the brutal death of a pro-Euro MP, so soon before the vote, would have a massive effect on the results. In the end it did not, and Sweden voted to stay out. In 2016, just seven days before the UK referendum on leaving the EU, a prominent pro-EU MP, Jo Cox, was shot to death in a public place. The man accused has been described by neighbours as “quiet, bit of a loner, keen gardener”, with no known political opinions, and, according to “records obtained by” the Southern Poverty Law Centre, as a white-supremacist Hitler-supporter with a houseful of Nazi regalia and other incriminating items. It is too soon to say whether the awful, violent death of Ms Cox …

VIDEO: Ukraine’s nationalists clash with police in Odessa

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Still from the video below, showing a far-right protester pepper-spraying the police. Dozens of far-right activists clashed with police outside the House of Trade Unions in Odessa on Sunday, as they tried to disrupt a demonstration of anti-government protesters who had gathered to celebrate the city’s ‘Liberation Day.’ [from the Nazis, by the Red Army on April 10 1944] The nationalists in military fatigue exchanged blows with police and National Guard, before being repeatedly pepper sprayed as officers tried to regain control of the situation.  

Ukraine’s Nazi Government Tries to Sell Stolen Art

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by Eric Zuesse On December 7th, the Netherlands Times  headlined “Ukrainian Secret Service Accused of Trading in Stolen Dutch Paintings,” and Janene Pieters reported that, “Members of the Ukrainian secret service SBU played a role in trying to trade the paintings stolen from the Westfries Museum in 2005, stolen art expert Arthur Brand revealed in the press conference about the stolen paintings in the museum on Monday. … On Monday morning the museum announced that the 24 stolen paintings were traced to a Ukrainian militia, which is trying to sell them for a large amount of money. The museum called in Brand to help negotiate for the return of the paintings after attempts through the international police organization Interpol failed.” Both the thieves and the marketers are so highly placed that Interpol refuses to become involved. So: the Museum is appealing to the public for help. Much is written about the vast Nazi operation in stolen artworks during World War II, but now the only nation in the world that has not just one, but …

Ukraine’s SBU, neonazis accused of trading stolen Dutch paintings

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A detail from Jacob Waben’s “Women’s World” (1622), one of the paintings stolen from the Westfries Museum. Holland’s Times reports: Members of the Ukrainian secret service SBU played a role in trying to trade the paintings stolen from the Westfries Museum in 2005, stolen art expert Arthur Brand revealed in the press conference about the stolen paintings in the museum on Monday, NOS reports. On Monday morning the museum announced that the 24 stolen paintings were traced to a Ukrainian militia, which is trying to sell them for a large amount of money. The museum called in Brand to help negotiate for the return of the paintings after attempts through the international police organization Interpol failed. Brand traveled to Ukraine and spoke with representatives of the militia. According to the museum, the militia has “completely unrealistic ideas” about what the paintings are worth. They want 50 million euros, while the paintings are actually worth between 250 thousand and 1.3 million euros, if they are in a good condition. As this does not seem to be …

Ukraine: Odessa judges forced to resign on May 2 case

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The Odessa Malinowski court judges writing their resignations (video below).  The Times of Odessa reports: Three judges of the Malinowski court in charge of the May 2 case were forced to resign. They wrote resignation statements under pressure from “Euromaidan” activists, who accused the judges of having taken the wrong decision by agreeing to release on bail five defendants in the May 2 case. If the resignations are accepted, the court will hear the case from the beginning, disregarding the year’s hearings. Earlier, a group of activists of the Odessa “Euromaidan” had blocked Judge Victor Coro of the Malinovsky Court in the courtroom, and forced him to write a letter of resignation. The activists were angered by the fact that on November 27 the panel of judges led by Coro had agreed to release on a bail of half a million hryvnia five “Kulikovo Field” activists accused of organizing riots in Greek Square on May 2, 2014 [hours before the Odessa Trade Union House fire]. They believe that by taking such a decision the judges acted against the …

DPR: Out-of-control Ukrainian volunteer battalions deploy near disengagement line

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The Azov battalion held an homage in Mariupol to their war dead, on the eve of Ukrainian local elections which were cancelled in the region for alleged irregularities in the printing of the ballots. Novorossia News reports: Some 2,000 fighters of the Azov, Dnipro and Lviv volunteer battalions, deployed near the disengagement line between Kiev-led forces and militias in Donbas, have gotten out of control of the Ukrainian military command, Eduard Basurin, spokesman for the Defenсe Ministry of the DPR, said at a briefing on October 28. “According to our intelligence data, a grouping of the enemy consisting of the Azov, Dnipro and Lviv units has been revealed between the inhabited localities of Novgorodskoye and Troitskoye. The grouping, which completely got out of control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has up to 2,000 people,” Basurin said. He added that in violation of the Minsk Agreements, 50 items of hardware, including tanks, infantry combat vehicles, armored personnel carriers and field artillery, have been concentrated in the same area. “The leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces …

Neonazis march in Ukraine on “Defenders’ Day”

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Azov battalion supporters rallied in Kharkiv today. Ridus reports: In Kiev, during the so-called “March for Heroes”, dedicated to the anniversary of the “Ukrainian Insurgent Army” (UPA), there was an explosion. According to Ukrainian media, it was a firecracker. The procession was attended by the radical nationalists of the Svoboda party, the banned extremist organization in Russia “Right Sector”, the members of the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists and other nationalist organizations [such as the Azov battalion]. Overall about 3500 people attended the action. According to law enforcement officials accompanying the convoy of nationalists, as a result of the incident no one was hurt, according to UNIAN. The marchers moved to St. Michael’s Square on the Great Zhitomir street toward the Lukyanovka jail, where arrested Svoboda activists are kept.  Svoboda members were taken into custody on August 31 in the investigation of the criminal case on the riots near the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. A concert is scheduled in front of the detention center. Today, October 14, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Defender of the Fatherland the …

Video: Azov mob storms Kharkiv city council

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Men in camouflage uniforms stormed the city council in Kharkiv. RT reports: At least 200 people wearing camouflage and masks stormed the local administration building in the city of Kharkov, eastern Ukraine, local media said. The perpetrators are alleged to be members of the radical Azov battalion. The masked men reportedly clashed with police and security forces at the city’s administration building. Those who have entered the building have also reportedly used tear gas, the Ukrainian 112 channel is saying. The masked activists were seen holding flags with the insignia of the radical Azov Battalion, which is accused of committing numerous human rights violations in Eastern Ukraine, according to international watchdogs. “There have been several small clashes between police and people in balaclavas. A few minutes ago somebody let off tear gas. The entrance to the city council is surrounded by a tight police cordon,” a journalist at the scene, from the 112 channel reported. […]

Neo-Nazi summer camp in Ukraine

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Photo © vk.com/tabir.azovec by Systematic A group belonging to the Ukranian Azovets summer camp on the Vkontakte social network has posted dozens of photos of children learning to shoot AK-47 rifles. The camp is supposedly connected to the Azov battalion, slammed as ‘neo-Nazi’ by the US Congress. The Azovets summer camp outside Kiev accepts kids from six years of age, operating under the moto: “the idea is in the nation, the strength is in you,” according to the camp’s page on the VKontakte social network. Azovets doesn’t have an official web page, but actively promotes itself on social media, including on Facebook and Twitter accounts belonging to the Azov battalion. Instructors from the ranks of the Azov battalion’s volunteer fighters provide the young students with a diverse training program, which includes PE, hand-to-hand combat, survivalskills, knot-tying and more. Photos posted on the page showed children being taught how to assemble an assault rifle before being given AK-47s to fire. […] Read in full Neo-Nazi summer camp: Ukrainian kids taught to shoot AKs by Azov battalion members …

Syria: most dishonest of all dishonest imperial wars?

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The evidence trail showing ISIS to be – at least in part – a cynical creation of western intelligence agencies is clear and undeniable. The official story of its genesis, income sources and apparently superhuman invulnerability is implausible to the point of absurdity. Yet the western governments and their tame media continue with the indefensible claim that their campaigns in Syria are in pursuit of defeating this chameleon-like foe. If the current skirmishing morphs into a full blown war then it will be perhaps the most blatantly dishonest and imperialist in the long history of dishonest imperial wars. In an article originally from New Eastern Outlook, Tony Cartalucci dissects the realities… US Invasion of Syria: The Deep Breath Before the Plunge When Foreign Policy magazine recently claimed, “Turkey Goes to War,” in their article of the same title, what they really meant was “the US goes to war.” That is because the lengthy plan they described in their article is not of the Turks’ creation, but a long-standing US plan committed to policy papers since …

Videos: Nationalists on the loose in Ukraine

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Screen capture from the video below. by Systematic From Kharkov, 057.ua reports: Fifty men with guns, bricks, sticks and machetes attempted to storm the building [the former Party of Regions offices in Kharkov], inside which, according to our information, were supporters of the “Opposition Bloc”*. Activists destroyed a “Mercedes” van, which was parked nearby, and then moved to the [building] Mirror Stream. Immediately out of the building came out their opponents, who lined up outside the door, and began to tell the unknown attackers to remove their balaclavas and call for the police to help. The law enforcers set up a cordon between the activists, but when stones started to be thrown against the building the police just turned away. Several shots from a pistol were fired too against the blocked building, and activists in balaklavas were seen with guns. […] Around a`hundred “Euromaidan” activists in camouflage attacked participants of the meeting in memory of victims of May 2nd in Odessa. Headed by Mark Gordienko and Yevgeniy Rezvushkin, they came to Kulikovo field before the …

Robert Parry: Ukraine Merges Nazis and Islamists

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by Systematic Members of a Chechen battalion fighting against Russian-backed rebels in Lysychansk, Ukraine, in February. Credit Olya Engalycheva/Associated Press Robert Parry writes: In a curiously upbeat account, The New York Times reports that Islamic militants have joined with Ukraine’s far-right and neo-Nazi battalions to fight ethnic Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. It appears that no combination of violent extremists is too wretched to celebrate as long as they’re killing Russ-kies. The article by Andrew E. Kramer reports that there are now three Islamic battalions “deployed to the hottest zones,” such as around the port city of Mariupol. One of the battalions is headed by a former Chechen warlord who goes by the name “Muslim,” Kramer wrote, adding: “Another, the Azov group, is openly neo-Nazi, using the ‘Wolf’s Hook’ symbol associated with the [Nazi] SS. Without addressing the issue of the Nazi symbol, the Chechen said he got along well with the nationalists because, like him, they loved their homeland and hated the Russians.” As casually as Kramer acknowledges the key front-line role of neo-Nazis …

NATO urges exclusion of extremists from Ukrainian Army

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by Systematic On the social platform vk.com a ukrainian Neonazi group called “Ukrainian Military Honor” released a photo of Ukrainian Army men, one of them showing a Nazi salute. (Ukraine Human Rights) Novorrossia Today reports: The North Atlantic Alliance is concerned about the presence of nationalists and neo-fascists in the Ukrainian Armed forces, said special envoy of the NATO Secretary-General in the South Caucasian and Central Asian States James Appathurai [June 19, 2015]. “All NATO member States would like the extremists to be excluded from the ranks of Ukrainian Armed Forces as soon as possible”, – he stressed, according to TASS news agency. This is not the 1st case, when the West is worried about the presence of extremists in the Ukrainian Army. Thus, earlier the media speculated about the possibility that Canadian military instructors would begin training Ukrainian neo-Nazis from paramilitary formations. Meanwhile American legislators voted against such training, and that urged Canada to reconsider provision of assistance to extremist groups. Official representative of the Canadian Ministry of Defense Ashley Lemierre said that it was Ukraine that bore the responsibility for the selection of military units to be trained by Canadian instructors.

Ukrainian neo-Nazis arrested following robbery, murder

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Still from a TV report (see below) about the May 4 attack on a Kiev gas station. Kiev prosecutors have reported the arrest of 19-year-old Aidar Battalion volunteer Vita Zaverukha [pictured below], who is suspected of serving as an accomplice in the killing of two Ukrainian police officers and the injury of three more following a botched gas station robbery in Kiev which occurred on May 4, Ukrainian media have reported. “As part of the investigation of criminal proceedings over an attack on a gas station and the killings of law enforcement officers on the night of May 4 in Kiev, another suspect has been arrested: a 19-year-old resident of Vinnitsa,” a statement on the website of the Kiev prosecutor’s office reads. The statement added that Zaverukha has been detained under the criminal code article for an “attempt on the life of an officer of the law.” Zaverukha, a volunteer in the radical nationalist Aidar Battalion with openly neo-Nazi views, was briefly lionized as a media darling last year as a “heroine fighting against separatists.” …

Canada Represents a Reservoir of Support for Ukrainian Neo-Nazis

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by Vaska Canada is the leading state sponsor of neo-Nazi armed terrorist units fighting in eastern Ukraine. Canadian support for the most right-wing elements, including neo-Nazis, in Ukraine would never have been possible had it not been for the concrete support provided by the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) and its Central Intelligence Agency masters since the Cold War era to neo-fascist organizations within the Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora community. It is a community that numbers 1.2 million and which has tremendous political clout in the Canadian Parliament and various provincial legislatures. So writes Wayne Madsen of Strategic Culture Organization. As he points out, in a gesture parallel to the notorious Operation Paperclip, in which the U.S. airlifted hundreds of top Nazi scientific and intelligence personnel from Germany, giving them shelter in the the United States, at the end of World War II, Canada had opened its doors to Ukrainian Nazi collaborators, an extreme right-wing/fascist diaspora which has had a major influence on the broader Ukrainian community in Canada: In the early 1990s, it was discovered …

Neo-Nazis bomb an Orthodox church in Berlin

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by Vaska As Viktor Gruzinov, who first aleterted me to this event with his post on Google+ points out, this sort of stuff never used to happen during the Cold War. But then, during the Cold War, Europe still used to present itself as an heir to its own humanist tradition and would never have abstained when it came to making judgments about whether it’s okay to glorify Nazism or not – as it began doing over the last few years. Most recently, on November 21, 2014, the UN General Assembly discussed and adopted a resolution – proposed by Russia – on combating “the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.” Following the preliminary debate, only 3 countries voted against the resolution: Ukraine, Canada, and the USA. Fifty-five countries abstained, among them all of the EU members, joined by Swizerland and Norway. Here‘s the UN General Assembly record of who voted how on that occasion. The resolution the UN General Assembly …

Poroshenko Tries to Stop His Side’s Ceasefire Violations

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by Eric Zuesse According to Donetsk People’s Republic Defense Minister Eduard Basurin, speaking Saturday April 11th, the recently reported ceasefire violations by the Ukrainian government’s side are violations by the Ukrainian government’s volunteer irregular battalions, not by regular units of the armed forces of Ukraine.   Furthermore, the DPR’s statement goes considerably farther to indicate that Ukraine’s President Poroshenko has actually been enforcing his side’s compliance with the ceasefire agreement. According to the announcement from the “Donetsk People’s Republic, Novorossiya”, posted on The Truth About the Situation in Ukraine FB page:  On Friday, the reports came that the Ukrainian 93rd separate mechanized brigade [the Ukrainan government’s forces] had demanded from the ‘Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists’ battalion [a group of neo-Nazi volunteer fighters] to abandon their positions in the area of Peski. The ‘OUN’ battalion is not controlled by the Kiev authorities. “’Today, on the 11th of April, Ukrainian regular army’s units got involved in the armed conflict’ [said Basurin. He went on to note that this phenomenon, of the regular Ukrainian army fighting against its own irregular volunteer battalions, had occurred earlier, …