Russia’s top investigator pledges to protect country from Maidan extremists

Russia May 07, 2014, 21:15

Alexander Bastrykin says Russian Investigative Committe has launched a whole range of criminal cases against extremists

MOSCOW, May 07. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian law enforcement and security agencies will prevent threats directed against Russia, which have been voiced by Maidan extremists, from being carried out, Russian Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin said on Wednesday.

“We have launched a whole range of criminal cases against extremists,” Bastrykin said at a solemn event involving World War II veterans dedicated to the 69th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in WWII.

“The fate of Bily (Alexander Muzychko, a coordinator of the Ukrainian far-right ultranationalist movement Right Sector) is known. Besides, we have launched criminal proceedings against (Right Sector head Dmytro) Yarosh, putting him on an international wanted list, against other persons who threatened Russia with terrorist attacks, guerrilla actions, retaliatory acts,” Bastrykin said.

“Jointly with the armed forces, with law enforcement bodies, we will prevent threats and acts of revenge against us, because the great history of the Great Victory is behind us,” he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told ITAR-TASS that the committee extended the investigation period for the criminal case against Yarosh and merged the case with the case of members of the far-right organization Ukrainian National Assembly - Ukrainian National Self-Defense (UNA-UNSO) who had fought on the side of Chechen militants in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Chechnya.

On March 5, Russia’s Investigative Committee charged Yarosh, who had voiced threats against Russia and its nationals, with using media to make public calls for terrorist and extremist activity. A Moscow court sanctioned his arrest in absentia.

Besides, a criminal case was opened against UNA-UNSO members Ihor Mazur, Valery Bobrovich, Dmytro Korchinsky, Andriy and Oleh Tyagnibok, Yarosh, Volodymyr Mamalyga and others. They are accused of fighting against Russian federal forces on the side of Chechen militants in 1994-1995.

 

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