Igor Girkin | |
---|---|
Игорь Гиркин | |
Minister of Defence of the Donetsk People's Republic | |
In office 16 May 2014 – 14 August 2014 | |
President | Pavel Gubarev |
Prime Minister | Alexander Borodai Alexander Zakharchenko |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Vladimir Kononov |
Personal details | |
Born | Igor Vsevolodovich Girkin 17 December 1970 Moscow, Soviet Union |
Political party | Angry Patriots Club (2023) |
Signature | |
Nickname | Igor Ivanovich Strelkov |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Russia Transnistria Republika Srpska Donetsk Republic |
Branch/service | Russian Ground Forces Federal Security Service Donbas People's Militia |
Rank | Colonel |
Battles/wars | |
Igor Vsevolodovich Girkin (Russian: И́горь Все́володович Ги́ркин, IPA: [ˈiɡərʲ ˈfsʲevələdəvʲɪdʑ ˈɡʲirkʲɪn];[a] born 17 December 1970),[1] also known by the alias Igor Ivanovich Strelkov (Russian: И́горь Ива́нович Стрелко́в, IPA: [ˈiɡərʲ ɪˈvanəvʲɪtɕ strʲɪlˈkof]), is a Russian political prisoner, army veteran and former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer who played a key role in the Russian annexation of Crimea, and then in the Donbas War as an organizer of militant groups in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).[2][3][4]
Girkin admitted responsibility for sparking the Donbas War in eastern Ukraine when, in April 2014, he led a group of armed Russian militants who seized Sloviansk.[5] His role in the siege gained him influence and attention, and he was appointed to the position of Minister of Defense in the Donetsk People's Republic, a puppet state of Russia.[4][6] Girkin was charged with terrorism by Ukrainian authorities.[7] He has also been sanctioned by the European Union, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Canada and Switzerland for his leading role in the war in eastern Ukraine.[8][9]
Girkin was dismissed from his position in August 2014, after 298 civilians were killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down by Russian-backed militants. Dutch prosecutors charged Girkin and three others with mass murder,[10][11][12] and issued an international arrest warrant against him.[13] Girkin admits "moral responsibility" but denies pushing the button.[14] On 17 November 2022, Girkin was found guilty for the murder of 298 people, convicted of all charges in absentia, and issued a life sentence.[15]
Girkin is a self-described Russian nationalist. After his service in the war, he returned to Russia in 2014 as a political activist, reportedly calling for the "liberal elite" to be destroyed and be replaced by militarists and securocrats.[16][17]
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Girkin regained attention as a milblogger, taking a strong pro-war stance but criticizing the Russian military for what he saw as incompetence and "insufficiency".[18] In October 2022, Girkin briefly joined a volunteer unit fighting against Ukrainian forces.[19] In April 2023, Girkin, alongside some fellow Russian nationalists joined the Club of Angry Patriots, a hardline pro-war group.[20] He began criticizing Vladimir Putin for incompetence and on 21 July 2023 was arrested by Russian authorities on charges of extremism.[21] Girkin was convicted in January 2024 of inciting extremism and sentenced to four years' imprisonment.
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