Alexander Tarasov about the murder of Motorola

Director of the Center for New Sociology and Study practical policy " Phoenix " Alexander Tarasov gave an interview to an expert Center " SOVA " , dedicated to the video message in which the Ukrainian Neo-Nazis Claim Responsibility for Assassination of DPR Commander Arsen Pavlova.

As you know, today a video appeared on the network in which people wearing masks posing in front of the flag of the Misanthropic Division movement and the flag of Ukraine with the symbols of the "Phoenix" group, took responsibility for the murder of DPR commander Arsen Pavlov (Motorola).

Can I start with a few words about what is the Misanthropic Division movement and what does it do?

Misanthropic Division is an international neo-Nazi association that important, is not a centralized organization, i.e. has no permanent leaders, rigid structure, etc. Apart from Ukraine, Misanthropic branches Division exists in Germany, the Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, the USA and, it seems, even in Belarus, although it is unlikely that under Lukashenka they manage to roam especially.

There, where there are few of them, they cannot do more than propaganda in social networks, but the Ukrainian situation is a special case. The local branch was organized in 2013 under auspices of the Social-National Assembly (Ukrainian political neo-Nazi organization - approx. ed. ), after which the Misanthropic activists appeared on the Maidan, staged a well-known attack on the opponents of the Maidan in Kharkiv, some of the activists participated in hostilities in the Donbass on the side of the pro-Kiev troops, including in Battalion "Azov". Those. there are people in Misanthropic Division who have serious combat experience.

And what is the Phoenix group, whose logo is depicted on second flag captured on video?

This the group announced itself shortly after the Ukrainian the Misanthropic Division announced that they were disbanding. About the closure was an official statement was made, publics in social networks ceased to exist. The reason, most likely, was that journalists abroad asked Peter Poroshenko, the question of why such people operate freely in Ukraine scary neo-Nazis, like Misanthropic supporters, with a black flag with skulls. The President did not give any substantive answer at the time, but almost immediately after that the Ukrainian branch of the movement just announced its dissolution.

Then and the Phoenix group appeared. Perhaps it was a new group created activists of the closed Misanthropic, it may have existed before and was part of Misanthropic as an association. "Phoenix" positioned itself as the only legal successor of the case of the closed branch.

Approximately two months ago, Misanthropic Division announced its re-establishment and continuation of work. And it looks like it's recovering. the branch is no longer as an association, but as a hierarchized organization, i.e. How a normal neo-Nazi organization - with a structure, a leader, branches in different cities, etc.

What is the relationship between Misanthropic Division and Phoenix?

Relationship between them are very bad, because they turned out to be kind of contenders for one inheritance. From the point of view of the revived organization, Phoenix supporters took advantage of the temporary situation (apparently, the dissolution was not planned as final, it just wasn't widely reported; most likely the people inside movements knew that there would be a rebrand) and instead of waiting, they decided try to take over the brand, proclaim themselves the rightful heirs Misanthropic Division and claim all of the organization's previous "glory".

Well, with the actors it is approximately clear. returning to the murder of Arsen Pavlov, in your opinion, could the activists of the Phoenix group or of the Misanthropic Division himself to actually accomplish it?

Despite to the fact that the Misanthropic Division never had a separate battalion due to their low numbers, the activists, as I said, have combat experience. themselves people from Misanthropic say they have about 50 people on the front line, i.e. these are people who actually fought, who have weapons and experience. But at the same time I quite sure that neither the Phoenix group nor the Misanthropic Division of this They couldn't commit murder on their own. They can only be performers who wanted to avenge their dead comrades. By own initiative and without cover, they could not have thrown a sabotage group behind front line so that she can survive there, strengthen herself, find out where Motorola lives, and etc. They also do not have specialists who could independently get into the protected area. entrance, assemble an explosive device and be able to fix it in the right place, calculate the detonation time and carry out the detonation. This murder was planned people with really professional knowledge and great resources that either participated in the action themselves or trained performers.

Then it turns out that the Phoenix group took over responsibility just for self-promotion?

If the murder was committed in conjunction with the Security Service of Ukraine or the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and I Let me remind you, Arsen Avakov (Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine - ed. ) promised publicly, that Motorola will be killed, then it will be beneficial for any official structure, so that an unofficial structure, especially neo-Nazis, take over responsibility. Still, there are Minsk agreements, and it is clear that the murder any prominent person from any side, even "Donbass", even "Kyiv", is a direct violation of these agreements. It's basically a terrorist attack. And here neo-Nazis did not sign anything. It is also beneficial for the Phoenix group itself: such advertising, will be able to boast that Motorola himself was killed.

There are versions that the death of Arsen Pavlov is a provocation from Russian authorities. What can be said here?

Russian authorities or the authorities of the DPR or LPR, on my opinion is unlikely to be involved. For them there is no gain in death Motorola. Everything is more clear with Alexei Mozgov: he was clearly in opposition field commander, who was very popular in his region. A Motorola no, he was quite the executive head of the unit. He turned out a talented mid-level military leader. He is not a politician, he did what he was told. More than that he created very decently himself proven anti-tank unit. The leadership of the DNR in no case not interested in anything happening to him. That starts tomorrow aggravation - who will destroy tanks instead?