Imprisoned opposition: Igor Girkin's supporters gear up for electoral battle against Putin
A group of people in Moscow supports the presidential candidacy of Igor Girkin, alias "Strelkov." The ultranationalist, who triggered the destabilisation of Donbas and seized control of Crimea a decade ago, is now a declared enemy of Vladimir Putin. Putin sent him to jail last summer and has no plans to release him.
7:39 PM EST, December 25, 2023
The trial of the ex-FSB agent and separatist, Girkin, kicked off in December after he was jailed in Moscow last summer for extremist activities. Vladimir Putin wants to eliminate this potential threat that Girkin may pose in the forthcoming elections. Girkin is radical and attracts loyal supporters.
It is widely anticipated that Putin will prevail in the March elections without serious competition.
The slogan of Igor Girkin's supporters is "Don't wait for the order," a mobilizing call to action. This call to action is directed against the current Kremlin authorities and they are unlikely to welcome it. According to the independent Russian portal SOTA, about six hundred people from across the country joined the meet. This is a solid base for Strelkov.
Strelkov holds strong beliefs about Russia's situation, the war in Ukraine, and how the country should evolve. He was imprisoned for severe criticism of the army and president, blaming them for defeats on the front, and criticizing the actions of Evgeny Prigozhin. Following Girkin's uprising in Moscow, the authorities concluded that Girkin needed to be controlled, that is, be put behind bars.
It's likely that he will remain in prison for quite a while, even after the March elections in Russia.
Who is Igor Girkin, also known as Strelkov, the terrorist?
The former FSB agent and intelligence officer is labeled a terrorist in the West, a claim that is not an overstatement.
Girkin led pro-Russian separatist forces in Donbas in the summer of 2014, during which Malaysia Airlines Flight was downed. On July 17, 2014, close to the village of Hrabove in Donetsk region, the Russians shot down MH17 with a 9K37 BUK system, causing the plane to crash. 298 passengers lost their lives, the majority being Dutch citizens.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the terrorist act in the Netherlands. In Ukraine, he might face the death penalty as there is evidence to suggest he had tortured and killed soldiers captured by the Russians. He is wanted by The Hague Criminal Court. For a long period, he was a sought-after commentator on the Ukraine invasion and regularly featured in the media. Problems arose when he started openly criticizing Vladimir Putin.
