Pro-Russian militants in Moldova and Belarus -- same but different


According to Moldovan intelligence, five Russian diplomats expelled from Moldova in May used to recruit militants. This was reported by Reuters news agency, government and diplomatic sources.

The expulsion took place on May 29 without the official announcement of reasons. Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip said that there were “reasonable grounds”.

Diplomats from the GRU?

According to sources, the diplomats were suspected of being part of central organ of the Russian military intelligence — the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, which is now officially referred to simply as “Headquarters”.

The “diplomats” were recruiting fighters in Gagauzia — an autonomous region in the south of the country, where a large number of people share the pro-Russian views.

Pro-Russian fighters in Ukraine. Photo REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman called this information “idle talk”.

Ukraine and Western countries have repeatedly accused Moscow of organizing and supporting anti-Ukrainian militants in Donbas with arms and manpower. As a result of the war, which began in the spring of 2014, more than 10 thousand people were killed. The fighting on the front line continues.

Recruitment and training

Reuters’ sources report that the militants recruited in Gagauzia were sent to a military camp in the Rostov region of Russia, which borders Ukraine. According to the agency and the Russian mass media, at least two such platforms are used to train militants who fought against Ukraine.

Information on the Gagauzia-hired militants was allegedly provided to Moldova by the Security Service of Ukraine, which gathers information about people who are fighting on the side of anti-Ukrainian forces.

Moldovan fighters during international drill. Photo U.S. Department of Defense

With these, the Moldovans were able to track down, arrest and interrogate the militants who had returned from the war, the sources said. Some former militants became informants of the Moldovan special services.

The Chisinau-Moscow relations have been strained since Moldova concluded a trade and political agreement with the European Union. Russia then stopped importing Moldovan products. In the same way Moscow exerted economic pressure on Belarus and Ukraine.

What about Belarus?

There is no information that Russian intelligence agents in Belarus are engaged in similar activities. However, a number of pro-Russian organizations organize military-style camps for young people, whose number of participants every year could exceed one thousand.

Alexei Milchakov. Photo from enotcorp.org

Also, the Russian group E.N.O.T. Corp has conducted events in Russia which were attended by young people from Belarus. The trainers there were former militants who fought in Ukraine, including the notorious neo-Nazi leader of the so-called sabotage and reconnaissance group “Rusich” Alexei Milchakov.

International workshop of E.N.O.T. Corp.

At least dozens of Belarusian citizens took part in the fighting against Ukraine, some of them died. It is known that former members of Special Forces and Internal Troops of the Armed Forces of Belarus also fought in the Donbass war.

While Belarusians who are fighting on the side of the legitimate government of Ukraine are facing prosecution by law enforcement authorities in Belarus, there have been no cases of our citizens being punished for taking part in the fighting on the side of pro-Russian militants.

However, it is known that the Belarusian secret services track former fighters of the PRD and PRL and occasionally call them in for a talk.

Alyaksandr Helahayeu, belsat.eu

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