Global InformationIgor Girkin information
Igor Girkin | |
|---|---|
Игорь Гиркин | |
 Girkin in 2015 | |
| 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 |
| Years of service | 1992–1993; 1996–2013; 2022–present[unreliable fringe source?] 2014 |
| 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 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 2022 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.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Стрєлков, який насправді має інше ім'я, наказував викрасти інспекторів ОБСЄ [Strelkov, who actually has a different name, ordered to kidnap OSCE inspectors]. Українська правда (in Ukrainian). 28 April 2014. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "MH17 Suspect Admits 'Moral Responsibility' for Downing Jet". The Moscow Times. 20 May 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ Leonard, Peter (29 April 2014). "Meet Igor Strelkov, The Face of the Insurgency in Eastern Ukraine". The World Post. Slovyansk. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- ^ a b Sonne, Paul; Shishkin, Philip (26 April 2014). "Pro-Russian Commander in Eastern Ukraine Sheds Light on Origin of Militants". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- ^ Dolgov, Anna (21 November 2014). "Russia's Igor Strelkov: I Am Responsible for War in Eastern Ukraine". The Moscow Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ Parker, Claire (19 June 2019). "Here's what we know about the four suspects charged with downing Flight MH17". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ Самопроголошеному міністру оборони "ДНР" І. Стрєлкову інкримінується створення терористичної організації та вчинення терактів в Україні [Strelkova, the self-proclaimed minister of defence of the DNR terrorist organization, charged with creating and committing acts of terrorism in Ukraine]. Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Dahlburgwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Igor GIRKIN". opensanctions.org. 17 December 1970. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ "Three Russians and one Ukrainian to face MH17 murder charges". The Guardian. 19 June 2019. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ "Investigators officially accuse 4 pro-Russian military officers of missile attack that shot down MH17". Business Insider. 19 June 2019. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ Troianovski, Anton (19 June 2019). "Investigation into downing of Flight MH17 names four Russian, Ukrainian suspects". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ "4 people charged with murder over downing of flight MH17". The Journal. 19 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ "MH17 Suspect Admits 'Moral Responsibility' for Downing Jet". The Moscow Times. 20 May 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
- ^ "MH17 verdicts: 2 Russians, 1 Ukrainian convicted of murders". AP NEWS. 17 November 2022. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ Donald N. Jensen (1 October 2014). "Are the Kremlin Hardliners Winning?". Institute of Modern Russia. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- ^ Пресс-конференция Стрелкова с точки зрения кровавого режима (in Russian). Sputnikipogrom.com. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "Bellingcat Investigator: What helps Girkin avoid prison for his criticism of the "special operation"". odessa-journal.com. 21 July 2022. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:6was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Russian fugitive forms 'Club of Angry Patriots' fearing military defeat in Ukraine - UPI.com". UPI. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ Osborn, Andrew (21 July 2023). "Pro-war nationalist Putin critic Girkin charged with inciting extremism". Reuters. Retrieved 21 July 2023.