I deliberately waited a few days before addressing the issue of the murder of “Batman” (Alexander Bednov) in the Lugansk People’s Republic but I am getting too many questions to remain silent any longer. So first, let’s look at the fact
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| Batman |
What is more or less established:
Batman had been traveling in an armored car for a while now because he feared for his life. Near the city of Krasnyi Luch, his convoy was attacked on a curve by a group of very well equipped attackers which were hidden on both sides of the road. Most interestingly, the armored car in which Batman was sitting was either blown up by a mine, or by a thermobaric missile (fuel-air explosive) which instantly ripped the vehicle into shreds.
Batman and everybody in his vehicle were instantly killed. The rest of his convoy was taken in a very heavy crossfire and killed. The attackers then approached the smoldering cars and hit every body left (many had been torn into several unrecognizable part) with a “control” shot into the head. The attackers then left the scene in, according to some witnesses, 2 Tiger special combat vehicle and one Kamaz truck.
The many theories:
Cui bono does not help very much here as the list of potential candidates is simply too long. Depending on whom you ask the current list of who could have ordered this murder include:
1) The Head of the Lugank People’s Republic Igor Plotnitskii
2) Vladimir Putin (yes, some will blame him for everything and anything)
3) Novorussian drug dealers or other criminal forces
4) The Ukrainian junta
5) Some Ukrainian oligarch
6) Forces interested in creating a “false flag” to discredit the Lugansk authorities
7) Western special services
To make things worse, Batman himself was the object of several very serious accusations including:
1) The severe torture of prisoners
2) The misappropriation of funds and humanitarian aid
3) The refusal to subordinate his Rapid Reaction Group to legal authorities
My own gut feeling about this:
The most likely version in my opinion is that the Lugansk authorities ordered the arrest of Batman and that the people who were tasked with executing this arrest were too afraid of Batman and his protection force to even try to detain him. I think that they simply opened up with everything they had. Did the authorities order him killed or were their orders misconstrued? Who knows? What is certain is that even if their orders to detain Batman were misconstrued these authorities still carry the political responsibility, the responsibility of command, and that at the very least a) they should order an honest and open investigation and b) all those responsible for this murder should be punished regardless of how many of the accusations against Batman were founded: whether he was guilty or not, he was never given a chance to surrender and he, and everybody around him, was murdered in cold blood.
Conclusions:
The Lugansk People’s Republic is a mess and has been a mess from Day 1. It is still a mess. For example, Vladimir Gromov, the Head of the Lugansk Counter-Intelligence Service has declared that this murder was a false flag operation of western special services which aimed not only at discrediting the Lugansk authorities, but also to have the various field commanders turn their guns on these authorities and overthrow them. I personally consider the notion of western special services running around the Lugansk People’s Republic in a a Kamaz Truck and 2 Tiger special vehicles as ludicrous, but I do see that Gromov realizes that this latest screw-up of the authorities might cost them their power and their lives. So the crisis is deep and serious, to say the least.
Givi, always the good guy (I love him!), has already offered to accept all of the Batman’s men under his command (he was trying to avoid a shootout between these men and the government forces sent to arrest and disarm them. I don’t know what happened since (if you find out, please let me know!).
I will say that Batman was clearly a pain in the rear for the authorities and I believe that some of the accusations made against him are founded. But the way this was handled is an outrage and a disaster. Worse, Plotnitskii get no support, nevermind respect, from most field commanders. So what is he doing still in power? This looks bad, bad, bad.
It is hight time to clean up the Lugansk People’s or the folks in Donetsk will spend too much time worrying about what is happening with their neighbors. I wish someone credible, say like Bezler, was sent their to kick-a** and restore some order and unity of command. Until that happens we can expect more scandals from this troubled region.
The Saker
Although I have no ‘skin in the game’I will offer this observation.
No sovereign nation young or old, can have it’s territory ‘managed’ by warlords,period as Americans say.
If the militia are truly patriots, once a regular army is formed they must stand down,be absorbed,or be considered bandits.
The Imperialists have always loved warlords,playing them like fish on a line,one against the other.
Witness: tribal Afganistan,tribal Iraq,tribal Libya,tribal Africa,it is a long..long list.
Caveat Emptor.
Because there were no survivors of this professional Death Squad hit we may never know who is responsible. The fact that the coup de gras was used shows that arrest was never the intent of this action.
We do know that the Chechen militias, that were pictured and praised here recently have the skills and temperament for this type of action and may be the reason for their insertion into the conflict zone.
Still in denial about Putin/ Russian oligarchs cleaning up true NovoRussian patriots ?
Once Strelokov was removed, many people predicted all the commanders would be removed. First Strelkov, then many of his commanders were in the basement, then Cossak Kolytsin, now Batman. Still refuse to see the pattern ? Why are you looking at this in isolation.
Why are the LNR authorities trying to arrest the rest of battalion ? What crimes did they commit ? Again, you are putting out propoganda. They want to wipe out the true patriots and only leave sycophantic thugs.
— There was a shoot out between Batman and Poltinsky’s gang when Batman went to register in the election and stand for election. He was refused. Why do you forget this ?
Russia is run by oligarchs and thugs – they don’t give a squat about the “Russian people”. and you my friend are just an apologist for them at best.
re: from Jack Devine on Covert Action. Jack Devine is former acting director of the CIA operations outside the US has a video on foreignaffairs.com/video.
his quote: “The world is highly unstable; our interests are very high. We are going to have to work through diplomacy, sanctions,incentives and military assistance, but we are going to have to make sure we have special friends that we’re supporting below the radar—more than ever.”
One never knows but whoever did the extrajudicial hit on Batman had resources ( local oligarch, Russian special forces) which does not preclude a commonality of interests. Why fund local CIA hit squads if you have “special friends” you can work with and through?
What about Strelkov calling for all rebels to leave Donbas?
What about Strelkov calling for the rebels leaving?
who knows, maybe he was involved in mh-17 crash down
Another huge story emerging just now with clear FF/patsy theme, directly involving russia in the sense that they (FSB?) clearly warned about Tsarnaev & his being setup for something–tsarnaev trial is now starting Boston for the Boston Paint Bomb hoax APR5/2013. quite the gallery of ridiculously hokey pics of the day they’ve put up.:
http://therebel.website/en/mike-king/827970-a-review-of-the-boston-smoke-bomb-hoax
Joat is 100% right. You can also add Syria rebels, but they were terrorists to begin with.
In saying that, there is a right and wrong way to handle this. Don’t know who killed him and don’t have any input.
Yes, Saker, this situation really looks bad for Lugansk and the absurd “explanation” rendered by Gromov makes LNR look worse. Alexander Bednov was a popular character and I think Plotnitsky, as head of state, must have stepped forward with some kind of credible statement and at least try to avoid so much speculation. Trying to find out more about this situation I came across an interesting opinion in Fort Russ, translated by KristinaRus, here: http://fortruss.blogspot.mx/2015/01/donbass-leads-race-to-control-armed.html. The author is one Aleksey Blyuminov, I do not know who he is, but he makes good points on the risks and dangers of having insubordinate armed groups in any country.
on the theme that perhaps the reason for putin doing next-to-nothing (while crude continues collapsing, now right near $50) except cobbling trade deals these last months, lest he get the blame for directly causing any month now the next big financial collapse far bigger than 2008, here’s a guy who traded derivatives over 2 decades ago who knows what’s going on.
he’s an amer ex-pat living/business in canada several decades now.
JAN4 30 min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYmpKR98ObU
What this breakdown in the crude oil price is going to spawn another financial crisis. It will be tied to the junk debt that has been issued to finance the shale oil plays in North America. It is reported to be in the area of half a trillion dollars’ worth of junk debt that is held largely on the books of large financial institutions in the western world. When these bonds start to fail, they will jeopardize the future of these financial institutions. I do believe that will be the signal for the Fed to come riding to the rescue with QE4. I also think QE4 is likely going to be accompanied by bank bail-ins because we all know all western world countries have adopted bail-in legislation in their most recent budgets
Alexander Bednov’s murder, aka Batman, had nothing to do with an arrest. He was eliminated with extreme prejudice, it was well timed, specifically armed to the task, well informed, and deep inside the territory of Lugansk. Moreover, the accusations of murder in the heart of a civil war zone is like accusing someone of over indulgence at a banquet.
This is disseminated to tarnish his name, after the fact. You know, “Those you intend to devour, you must first deflower!” Well, they could not tarnish his name will alive. However, now that he is dead and the troops demoralized, they can do whatever they want; they now have complete control of the narrative!
So, the MO is extra judicial murder, control of the narrative, specifically targets freedom fighters, are well informed, and well armed! Hum! Sounds a lot like an oligarch to me! Who’s side the oligarch is one is irrelevant as they are a nation unto them selves! Oligarchs of the world unite! There is only one thing that would convince me otherwise, if they, like the Cesares of ancient Rome, actually put their fat asses on the front-line. That doesn’t include a photo-op in fatigues.
The founders of the rebellion, that held an army at bay in Sloviansk, expressed a fundamental abhorrence with the oligarchical system of robbing from the poor to enrich the filthy mega rich. His close association with Alexey Mozgovoy, whom expressed a similar appetite to end the criminal rule of oligarchs, tells me that the execution had a lot to do with to the Minsk agreements. Those agreements, are all about handing back the keys to the region to oligarchical control.
Another word for an oligarch is “mobbed up”, and executions is their stocking trade.
What about Strelkov? He said rebels should withdraw.
http://fortruss.blogspot.ca/2015/01/donbass-leads-race-to-control-armed.html
Here’s a commentary with insight into what happened…it aligns closely with the Saker’s impression of events.
I think there are simply too many players, too many angles to work, too many weapons and nowhere near enough central direction. I read somewhere that the DNR and LNR were supposed to be holding a meeting together about “co-operation”. Half of me thinks perhaps Batman was hard done by, but if you take away the PR and blogging, its just someone solving someone else’s problem in a typical Russian way – very 90’s if that means anything to you.
@Joat
“Witness: tribal Afganistan,tribal Iraq,tribal Libya,tribal Africa,it is a long..long list.”
Libya is IN Africa. Your mind has been corrupted by the Anglo colonialist’s worldview I suggest you resist such reflex polemics and truly study what is happening in the world.
I disagree. ‘Batman’ only had two ways out. He did not chose the honorable path. There are certain people that you do not murder, especially in the dungeon of the ‘Bat Cave’. ‘Batman’ went rouge a long time ago and the fact that his unit was against Adar is significant and totally suspect. When reading between the lines’ it appears ‘Batman’ was a double agent. Anyway, he did not take the honorable route and die in a significant combat action. As for Plotnitsky. He knows he is a temporary figure and will call for elections when needed and step down, but only those that ‘get with the program’ are going to be running for office. Appearances can be very deceptive.
Saker has covered the issue of Batman pretty well, considering what is known at this point in time. If he was killed by the LPR, this is a serious issue for the survival of the republic. Additional perspective about the impact on the LPR can be found at:
http://quemadoinstitute.wordpress.com/2015/01/05/novorossiya-rolling-analysis-dec-31-jan-4/
Scroll down to topic “Bednov (Batman) Controversy” and also to the guest article under January 4.
The murder of Batman presents such a conundrum for Novorossiya, it is urgent to continue discussing the cause of his death until Plotnitsky and the LPR straighten the situation out. This has do be done before any more damage occurs to the NAF.
Just another horrendous crime committed in the style of Ukrainian oligarchs. The inability for organized authority to investigate such crimes erodes the legitimacy of Dombass rebellion. The main beneficiary of this is NATO and its planned conquest of Russia. NATO definitely has the capacity for this.
Observer
Hello everyone,
Well from what I know about the Rapid Reaction Force “Batman” (GBR Batman), some people in Moscow are probably behind it. Very important, one should keep in mind that there are some *very* radical russian nationalists (self-describer pagans) within Batman’s unit, most notably “Storm Group Rusich” (ДШРГ Русич “DshRG Rusich” in Russian). And there might have been fear in some Moscow circles that letting a militarily very successfull, well equipped AND independent unit with radical nationalists have its own course on the battlefield and then see those skilled fighters BACK to Russia could be a risk (think of a sort of “nationalist al qaeda” return). Also another risk is that the insurgency like in Iraq in 2007 could become nationalist dominated, which let’s face it some people in the russian elite (not necessarily Putin) fear *a lot*. Thus there would be a challenge to the Moscow elite from an alternative (radical nationalist!), totally corruption-free force. Another possible explanation is that “Batman” refused to subordinate to the new military command and its yet unknown top commander (blogger ColonelCassad says even his callsign is classified) and thus he was assassinated so as to warn others.
I don’t know enough to comment on Bednov’s death, except that I’ve not seen it mentioned at VZ, KM or Lifenews. This suggests to me that an orc or western ss force probably was not involved, since Russian media usually mention atrocities committed by the orc side. This lack of coverage suggests the hit is understood to be an internal Novorossia thing, since the media tend to ignore most of the internal rivalry and infighting there.
————
In other news:
Одесса стоит на пороге партизанской войны (Odessa is on the verge of guerrilla warfare)
http://vz.ru/world/2015/1/5/723296.html https://z5h64q92x9.net/tr-url/ru-en.ru/www.vz.ru/world/2015/1/5/723296.html
The article speculates that Odessa may be in the beginnings of rebellion. They quote extensively from Boris Rozhin ( Colonel Cassad).
вот так
I was oscillating for years between suspecting or not that Putin is part of a global masquerade with the purpose of fooling the masses and creating a certain history to justify measures in the future of mankind. This is also why he seems to a master on the geopolitical scene, because it’s all orchestrated and adjusted “on-the-fly” for unpredicted events. In my opinion, this killing was done by russian special troops. This guy was against the oligarchs and against the Minsk agreement. The oligarchs from Moscow and Kiev have a common interest in not allowing a society free of corruption and mafia-style gangs.
They fear the idea of Dontesk and Lugansk setting a precedent in creating a better society, in contradiction with the entire Ukraine and Russia (corrupted deep to the bones). How about writing a few articles about the daily corruption in Russia (which has the roots from the times of when the bolshevik change the structur of society and created conditions for the “self-chosen” ones to become even richer) and why so many from there still want to leave the country, despite the several good things that Putin did, I admit. You could start by doing some research on the very rich people surrounding Putin (especially the Rotenberg brothers from the tribe of the “self-chosen” ones)
Here is an interview from November with Bednov and you will understand why the oligarchs disliked him and wanted him eliminated:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMEJyT5WsG4
I think I’m done with Putin after this event, it’s pretty clear.
Not knowing the individuals involved, including “Batman,” I must rely on Saker’s explanation. It rings true.
An assassination of a military and or political leader and his bodyguard, even if necessary, (under war conditions), is a moral tragedy and a sign of weakness. Guilty and Innocent have a right to trial (where they can explain and defend themselves).
We must keep this sad affair in perspective. The United States puppet Ukrainian Regime has also has its share of assassinations and corruption. They just hosted a large – by torchlight – pro-Nazi march in the streets of their capital, Kiev.
Of course, the anti imperialist Partisans of Novorossiya deserve (and I’m sure desire) the kind of leadership that free citizens struggle for, leaders who represent their people, and no other master.
The 1937 May Days in Republican Spain come to mind. The Stalinist dominated Republican police and soldiers attacked the Anarchist Partisans of Catalonia (the sad history is related by George Orwell in his autobiographical “Homage to Catalonia”). Orwell (who had been seriously wounded on the front lines of the struggle to save the Spanish Republic), and his wife, were forced to flee Spain after his Division in the POUM (Partido Obrero Unido Marxista) was disbanded, and its leaders arrested, or executed. The Spanish Republic never recovered from this butchery within its ranks. These events left a spiritual void, and sapped the strength of the citizens of the Spanish Republic.
The final defeat of the Republic in 1939, opened the gate to Hitler’s Germany to demand the Polish Corridor, which triggered World War II, and culminated in the death of 60 million humans.
Division in the face of the enemy is a sure recipe for defeat.
The VISION must be retained.
The sacrifices of the soldiers of the Donets and Luhansk Peoples Republics must not have been in vain. They have given their blood for freedom, not for a regime of assassination.
There are no short cuts. You get what you wish for. The Means are the Ends.
Peter J. Antonsen
I’ve been following as much as I
can from Russian blogs for a while.
There is an effort to neutralize
the leaders of the rebel forces
one way or another.
Why should they subordinate themselves to come lately politicians hiding behind a
desk ?
There are criminal elements as well but consider there is chaos and these commanders have men to feed,
clothe and arm.
They should of took control of everything by now in this war but
have not, they have to deal with
corrupt politicians.
This leader that was just taken out was a highly effective leader.
God Bless him and his men.
I want to see some Justice here.
Part One
I have been following this very very closely on numerous Russian blogs.
The “submit to one authority” story does not wash. Batman did in fact agree to submit his group to central authority just 4 days earlier, when he was praised as a hero.
The killing was ambush and execution. That is 100% clear. The photos of the vehicles and the bodies are horrific.
1) If they wished to arrest him, all they had to do was ask him to a meeting, say to discuss staff or equipment allocations, and then arrest him in the office. Simple. Instead, there was nothing said for a whole day after the killing, then a statement was made calling his group a “gang” and accusing him of detaining and torturing people etc. and claiming he resisted arrest. And now the head of the Lugansk Counter-Intelligence Service is saying it was a false flag, done by western special forces? huh??? they don’t have their story straight, have they? This is not an arrest gone wrong.
2) there are no “Government forces” to do this arrest, nor a Prosecutor, not a court system — NO LAWS HAVE BEEN PASSED YET. So any arrest by them would be no more legal than what Batman was doing in the territory under his de facto control.
3) Batman openly spoke about having to “requisition” things (food and vehicles and housing) and find ways to get money for the area he controlled. None of the Russian humanitarian aid was reaching those outlying areas. Some private aid was arranged from Russia. Fuel doesn’t grow on trees, either. His group fed the local population and had a hospital and social kitchens established. But they also did arrest and jail (“basement”) people they judged (by some rough and ready court process of their own) to be criminals. This is what ALL groups had to do, and is what the official Republics are doing until they get laws written and passed and a proper court system set up.
4) One of Batman’s complaints was about humanitarian aid not reaching areas out of Lugansk city. Another was, where was the money going from illegal coal sales, well know to be done by various people, including Plotnitsky. All the money-related “crimes” he was accused of were a direct result of not getting any funding or assistance from the “central authority” he was meant to be submitting to.
5) Three weeks earlier a group of “special forces” attacked a Cossack group in another town that was selling coal, once again to support themselves and the population in their area. That time was a shootout, ending with 2 or 3 Cossacks dead. There was no pretence of trying to arrest anyone. There were public arguments for weeks beforehand between them and Plotnitsky over who would “control” coal sales.
6) Colonel Cassad has a list of supposedly known criminals (real ones ie with records from Ukraine days) acting as advisors to Plotnistky but I don’t know anything about those guys to confirm or dismiss this. These could be either criminal or oligarch connections, but it is unclear what profit they make, or if they are just advising on ways and means.
7) I don’t object to coal sales by the republic either, They too need money for fuel and food and medicines and maybe to pay pensions (which incidentally Luhansk is still promising while Donetsk managed to pay a bit nearly 2 months ago) although it was in Luhansk a bank was found about to destroy some $2.4 million (US dollars, not hryvnia) which is where?
Part two
8) The damage to morale from this is horrific, in both Republics. Allowing it demonstrates political incompetence of the highest order. There is a suspicion of this anyway,in that Luhansk is always 2 or 3 months behind Donetsk in getting anything organised — repairs, distributions, banks, pensions, services generally, although they have the smaller area and population.
9) Nobody from Donetsk has made statements and I don’t expect them to. Givi, who is close enough to Zakharchenko to be in his confidence, and so is unofficial spokesman for him, said nothing about the killing. He just stated he respected Batman ( = “he was not guilty”) and is prepared to take in his fighters (= “they’re not criminals either”). DPR has been holding talks with LPR since before the killing, about uniting their fighting forces totally, and uniting law making and many services as well. In other words they could see the slow progress in Luhansk, and I am quite sure knew the reasons, and were starting to take a senior role.
10) Cassad today said something about Plotnitsky “when he returns from Moscow” which, if correct, would indicate someone higher up wanted to hear what is happening. He may not be back? Cassad also states there are Russian Federation agents in Luhansk checking out the deployment of the humanitarian aid (rumours being that at least half ends up on the black market).
11) It is not at all clear WHO the DPR forces are officially united under. In theory the head of state is the commander in chief, but there must be some friendly advice from RF, certainly decisions to fight or not are taken in
close consultation, not to cause additional problems for Russia.
12) Strelkov. Well Strelkov. He can’t keep his nose out of anything (one reason he was sent to Russia and told to STAY THERE). Another reason was, after they retreated from Slavyansk, Ukies found papers indicating 3 men had been tried in ad hoc “courts martial” and one had been executed. Strelkov several times openly admitted having done this. His statement NOW telling commanders to go to Russia relates to this. He is saying, “if you did something bad you could be arrested for by ambush, come to Russia where you’ll be safe”. (And that was no well planned orderly tactical retreat, if he couldn’t take his files with him…incriminating ones at that).
In summary
* it was an execution, with a lot of collateral damage
* it is disasterous for morale in all Novorossiya
* it is likely to lead to “change of management” in Luhansk, most likely a figurehead, with real decisions being made for both republics from Donetsk
* the militias WILL unite, under a head they can trust
And they need to get this done YESTERDAY as January 7 is a danger date, and January 15 (4-nation “peace” talks without them) is another.
Analysis of the Territory of the Lynx on the current situation in Donbass: “Donbass now”
http://elterritoriodellince.blogspot.com.es/2015/01/el-donbas-ahora-sobre-la-situacion.html
As we can see, some advances on social justice are reflected in the Constitution, namely the right to housing, nationalization of natural resources but …. that statement of principles that made Zakharchenko on that memorable and hopeful press conference and which could be summarized in the cry NIET OLIGARCHY! has been watered since Akhmetov retains all its businesses and privileges despite its ambiguity and above the heroes and civilians killed. Maybe it’s some kind of lateral change strategy …. but….so at first glance, as I have not seen it… neither I, nor the militias who have left the skin and life, nor people.
I honestly do not know what this is, I do not know the history of Batman, and, in any case, if this is the Russian way of doing things (very 90´s as noted by one), I do not like. It was assumed that we wanted to build something other than what is on the west of the Donbass and it began to leave the mob outside.
As I said once on the resident 5th column in the Kremlin, IMHO, if the environment is not clean, continue rarefied; simply, can not build anything on the filth, because the filth is by definition unstable.
By the way, I hope nothing happens to my dear Aleksei Mozgovoy (God bless him) I think I will not understand, despite the much explain it to me, so be it linear or lateral.
I don’t think Batman was a bad guy.
http://www.novorosinform.org/articles/id/578
Who could be afraid of this man of honour?
Who said to the militia to wait?
Who had to go save their asses in the war?
Who has been negotiating the federalization which will come?
Who supplies the civilians, took in one million refugees and who supplies the voentorg?
That’s who has the right to do whatever he needs to get done.
Not Batman or Strelkov. They are nobody. In fact, Batman was up to no good for a long time.
The rest of the leaders all got Moscow vacations before they were relieved of duty. Summoned to Russia and told the facts of life.
Now we have this guy blown away. Too bad for his unit, his wife and kids. But Lugansk is pivotal and problematic. It has to be stabilized because the supplies go through there, the refugees, the volunteers, the voentorg, everything.
If it was mafia, oligarch, gangsters, Mossad, or emissaries from Russia, it does not matter. He was a problem.
Strelkov executed a guy for stealing a T-shirt. Military discipline is imperative. And it is clear the militia is going to be absorbed into something that the Russians can totally control and use if war breaks out. You can’t have warlords mixed in with military.
It is sad that it had to happen. But Batman made his bed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMEJyT5WsG4
Well.. Having watched this I see two things.
1. Agreement between various actors. – Tigrs should be soemthing of a rarity in that theatre of war unless domestically cut.
2. “Strelkov, you are married look what happens to you you come back”
Batman’s version holds together. Brings us back to Mozgovoi’s discussion with ‘normal Ukrainian Soldiers’.
The US engineered collapse of Ukraine is following the same playbook as the collapse of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY)using combined neoliberal subversion, IMF/World Banks economic looting, and puppet leaders (dictators) who supervise the plunder, as described in “The Angola Variant”: model.http://atimes.com/c-asia/BD13Ag01.html
The Ukraine collapse is leading to the rise of what Arnold Toynbee called warbands: http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2014/10/dark-age-america-hour-of-knife.html (see )
Thus, what we have in the LPR is competing war clans including various local warlords as well as Igor Plotnitsky mafia rule of Lugansk. It is possible that Alexander Bednov, known as “Batman” was eliminated because he ran a torture prison.
torture.http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=480_1420386430
On the other hand, Igor Plotnitsky has been accused of being a looter running the LPR as a mafia kingdom: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=070_1420232102#I5Hu6mMvY4WGfd6x.99
The Ukrainian private armies, including the national guard are involved in fratricide over which warlord will control the loot: IN the case of Odessa a conflict between Kolomoisky and Poroshenko where some local National Guard battalions are subordinated personally to Kolomoisky, while of Poroshenko is sending in other National Guard is under his patrimony:
http://niqnaq.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/odessa-actually-i-see-this-as-another-low-level-turf-war-between-the-cia-and-the-israelis/
Warbands under Right Sector, Sloboda, Kolomoisky, Klichko, etc are all looking to grab their share of the loot that was once Ukraine. The AZ gangsters also just want the loot. While Russia is suffering, I expect the EU will in the end collapse in the face of its involvement in such adventures as described in:
http://www.amazon.com/Revenge-History-Battle-21st-Century-ebook/dp/B007NQVVCK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420491683&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Revenge+of+History
Those who closely follow the National Front in France understand that it understands that foreign interventions are the cause of immigrants fleeing into France (and the EU in general). Such will be the case for EU receiving millions of Ukrainian refugees while the EU ruling class gets rich off the plunder.
@nineatreams,
I agree with your assertion:”Russia is run by oligarchs and thugs – they don’t give a squat about the “Russian people”. and you my friend are just an apologist for them at best.”
From what I read here and everywhere else, I feel there is not much hope to see any meaningful change from Russian leadership and from a public that has so little clue.
It is country of whiners, it win all the wars, but surprisingly, prosperity eludes its people. Spending exceptional amount of money and man power on guarding those occupation republics, and endless empty field of Siberia, could have been used for other purpose. I wonder why British and rest of Europe had give up on colonization.
Sure it is The West propaganda that Chechen wants a break from, then why Kadyrov need a personal death squad.
I feel sorry for the so called Customer Union of yours which is base on a failed model, and you can pull it off only because the oil price.
My only interest was Nororossia, whom I hope will be a independent country. But stupidity demonstrated from Moscow tells me it will not happen.
So Russia can bomb the world many times over, out kill anyone else. Big deal, it only reinforce the world opinion of how barbaric the country is.
@ Larchmonter445 who said…
But Lugansk is pivotal and problematic. It has to be stabilized because the supplies go through there, the refugees, the volunteers, the voentorg, everything.
You can’t have the “State” going about doing extra-legal executions…it makes the State one giant warlord. Batman had a lot more hands-on experience at that than Plotnitsky…more fighting, more supplying how own people by whatever means, more looking after the area under his control, however much we may disapprove of “warlords” having “areas”. The STATE was not doing anything for those people. And “why not?” was one of the embarrassing questions Batman kept asking.
This was the second commander killed on purpose, no attempt to arrest and charge, and it was over control of resources both times, not over lack of military co-operation. Ukraine goes about murdering people it wants out of the way. There is no excuse for a supposedly better State to do so even on such a small scale.
I am not suggesting Batman was a saint. Nobody comes out of a war as a saint. It is true he went up against Aidar quite a lot (there was a lot of Aidar in that area). True they never took a lot of Aidar prisoners. NOR DID ANYONE ELSE.
But you think “Strelkov executed a guy for stealing a T-shirt” is okay? he too was a “warlord” on your definition.
They should have called Batman to talk about something and arrested him quietly. An ambush murder on a busy intersection that endangered civilians as well is not the act of a trustworthy and legitimate State.
You say “…The rest of the leaders all got Moscow vacations before they were relieved of duty. Summoned to Russia and told the facts of life…” well, yes, they could have done that, too.
But who is in Russia now getting a talk? maybe THE talk? Plotnitsky.
There it is a simple answer, “Divide and Conquer”. This strategy works very well, and it is around for a very long time.
The Latin were saying, “Divide et Impera”
I hear a lot of frustration and condemnation based on a certainty that we don’t have. We don’t know if he was acting as a criminal boss, in addition to being a patriot. We don’t know if he had refused to turn himself in for arrest. But if he was afraid for his life, then maybe so.
Part 1
As much as I hate this from a moral and legal standpoint.Even more I am reminded of Talleyrand’s saying on another occasion “it is worse than a crime,it is a blunder”. The two things needed more than anything in the resistance against fascism by Novorossia is unity,and not giving her enemies propaganda to exploit.This killing harms the unity of the forces actually fighting fascism.And gives the Ukrainians and West an excuse to say the resistance is make up of thugs.The counter-maidan reminds me of the early French Revolution days.And as someone already posted, the Spanish Civil War.The backbiting,arguing,violence between groups harms the resistance,and it must stop.They need to see that they must have unity or they will be destroyed.If this was an isolated incident it needs to be set aside until the war is won.If on the other hand its a plot by the current LPR leader to murder all the other leaders that don’t obey him,then he must be eliminated and a warning sent never to try that again or face the same fate.
From the beginning this counter-maidan movement has been an object lesson on what not to do in a similar situation.When Yanukovich was illegally overthrown.Russia should have denounced it and called on the Ukrainians to turn out the junta.Their weakness allowed the junta to consolidate power to the degree they have now.Then when the resistance started to form they should have seized all organs of state and local power in the areas they controlled.Not drip,drip,the takeovers.Leaving the absurdity of having two centers of power in the same area.They also had a good chance had they done that,of seizing the ammo dumps and bases with heavy military equipment in those areas at the start.They also should have approached POR and CP officials for an alliance to overthrow the junta.And set up deep cells in other regions of Ukraine among those that hated the junta.As we see now there are some cells working in Odessa and Kharkov.But had the rebels set them up strongly at first, they would by now be very effective.Standing around and letting the junta ship vast amounts of military equipment to the East was a horrible idea.There is a reason in WW2 the allies (including most assuredly the Soviets) used partisan groups behind the lines to blow trains,bridges,assassinate nazi officials.It had a material and psychological affect on the enemy forces.While its not too late to take most of these measures.It certainly is late to start with them.
Uncle Bob
Part 2
Which brings us to the main point,what is the end-game.I can’t (don’t want to at least) believe Russia is willing to see the fascist Russophobes keep power in Ukraine.The West from the beginning had no intention of using military force against Russia.The longer all this lasts that may change.On the basis of the daily Russia-hate propaganda alone.But they were certainly ready to destroy Russia economically,and reinstate a Cold War.And the only way Russia could prevent that was/is to kneel to them,or fight against it.That was true at the beginning and is true now,and will be true at the end.I don’t think Russia (the government) has decided which choice to make.It seems they constantly take two steps forward,and one step backwards.That somehow in their minds is progress.But to the world it looks like indecision and weakness.If much of the world didn’t hate and fear the US you’d see much more complaining about Russia’s weakness.But they are getting a pass from their supporters because of that.
This year may very while tell the tale.The choices as I see them are: (A)The resistance will either need to become organized and strong enough to resist the almost certain junta attacks.And then actually win the war and toss out the junta. (B) The Russians will be forced to either save them from being destroyed by the junta,or not.Then what happens.Does Russia get smart and actually toss the junta out.Or just hold the same or a slightly better position. (C)The junta wins,Russia does nothing.And Ukraine grows even closer to NATO and a totally Russophobic fascist state.(D) We have a totally frozen conflict.Nothing is done on either side.And the misery of the poor population endures for years.The second worst solution I might add.But on an even “brighter note”,this doesn’t affect the Cold War with any of those solutions.As Putin himself said.The US wanted a Cold War and would have used any excuse.So that will have to be combated either way.It would just be better to combat it from a position of strength, off a victory, instead of what we have now.
Uncle Bob
Anonymous said…
“My only interest was Nororossia, whom I hope will be a independent country. But stupidity demonstrated from Moscow tells me it will not happen.”
I was just wondering.Since your post was totally Russophobic why do you care about the freedom of Novorossia.
Uncle Bob
Why don’t you use the reply option then we would know who you are refering to!
Good Batman and evil Joker (=Plotnicki)? Pretty simplistic idea, Luhansk is not Gotham City. Batman wasn’t an opposition politician, he was officer of LNR army and Plotnicki’s subordinate. Which army and which commander in chief would tolerate pernament attacks against his authority (some attacks even with armed hands)? Putin, Strelkov, Mozgovoi, Kosytsin? Hardly any of them. Bednov’s murder was obviously desperate solution of some crisis between them, moreover miserably executed. Everybody wants to see some undisputed leader of LNR, but any way to such leader leads through swamps of civil war (Kadyrov in Chechnya, Caesar in Rome, Stalin in Soviet Union). Can LNR now afford overt civil war?
Right now they are trying to round up separatists or partisans in Odessa. That gives them a port through which they can receive ships…like warships… bringing equipment and men in large quantities. That is what those 200 – 300 “National Guard” are doing in Odessa. They also want to terrorise people enough (or maybe even cut the power at the time) so they do not phone the news through to partisans in other areas. Around Mariupol they seem to have just mined the beaches, so someone like maybe Russia can’t bring in troops that way from conveniently nearby Crimea.
They are just crazy enough to actually consider trying to take Crimea.
Russia can keep an easy eye on what’s going on there, in fined detail….they already run drones there.
Truth is Russophobic.:-)
FortRuss has come through with translation of video by Batmans’ fighters
http://fortruss.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/rusich-commander-talks-about-batmans.html
some not for fainthearted.
SORRY forgot to add the original video for those who understand Russian
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2urc7K9-RM#t=242
Larchmonter,
You may be mixing up the problems. A problem bigger than Batman is the Lugansk Republic. A perhaps even larger problem has been the Kremlin’s personnel policies since this whole mess began. Other than Strelkov, has any Moscow-vetted or selected guy been worthy of respect by the troops or even just a paper pusher in an office somewhere?
If they truly had a case against him (they didn’t, the allegations listed are BS, military commander found with 100 guns, puhleese!!)) and wanted to arrest him to stand trial (they didn’t…they don’t even have any LAWS YET for doing that) ) then they could have invited him to discuss business (he HAD signed the contract with the Defense Ministry) and then arrest him while he’s unarmed drinking a cup of tea.
They could do the same if they wanted to kill him, except they couldn’t look him in the eye while doing it.
If they just wanted him out of the way (which they did), they could wait until he goes to the outpost where half his battalion moved to, or even ask him to go there, and ambush him THERE, really close to the front line, where it could be made to look like the other side did the ambush. Give him a chance to shoot back. Drop some bit of Ukie gear to make it look better. Or take off in that direction, if they’ve left the escort alive to see which way they go.
And then issue a solemn and shocked public eulogy for the hero commander, who had an assured long career with them, and offer his widow help with the funeral.
They stuffed it up. They are totally incompetent. If they can’t do a hidden murder, under war conditions, they are not fit to be governing a cardboard box. These people are expecting seasoned good commanders to obey them on military matters???
And now too many people know who did it, and who gave the order, and that’s more blood to come. WHEN THEY SHOULD BE WORKING ON SAVING THE BLOOD OF THEIR CITIZENS.
And so, now who is going to feed the old people in that area? who get their heart and diabetes meds for them?
ninestreams..I checked out your blog…negative somethingorother…negative yes, I’ll agree to that. I don’t know why you keep calling Saker ‘my friend’ … I doubt you have any.
Anyway, I see you come here for your social media life, because your own negativity drives all readers away.
sorry, I don’t doubt you’re right on several of your issues, but nobody knows, not you, not Saker, not the readers…just because you’re negative, doesn’t make you right. Batman was a warlord, even if a good one. Those who live by the sword….
it blows my mind how many people blame Putin.
You know, I used to have a friend, who’s friend’s son had a friend that worked at the Sochi Olympics as a cook. And Putin was to blame for the food.
Go get a life.
Anonymous said…
Truth is Russophobic.:-)
Only is you consider Western propaganda as “truth”.In which case why are you here.Since I don’t think its difficult to figure out we don’t.
Uncle Bob
Sorry Saker, your interpretation about “the people who were tasked with executing this arrest were too afraid of Batman and his protection force to even try to detain him. ” Simply cannot stand.
First, soldiers obey, and I’m sure whoever sent this force, have absolute authority over them. Considering of the extent of firepower they had (they instantly killed Batman!)
Second, Batman isn’t the one giving out humanitarian aid… So how can he misuse it? LOL He’s the leader of the 4th Brigade, that’s all, and a commander does not mistreat his subordinates, not someone like Batman with loyal followers.
Third, for the good of LPR, I’m sure compromise rather than attacking and killing or even capturing a commander is the better way… Batman isn’t unreasonable, in fact, he was most reasonable and not the most aggressive at all.
Maybe I’m being full of myself, but I watched Batman’s New Year congratulations again and again, you know what? He seems tired of war…
And I’m sick of the nationalist shit about Batman. It’s like Nazism and Fascism, communism what not.
They mean not a damn thing.
A so called “Nationalist” will not necessarily go kill or enslave everyone of another nation, and a Nazi doesn’t necessarily wish to do ethnic cleansing. It’s just a convenient name for people who are doing ethnic cleansing…
All of this words, I think, are stupid. Which is why I refuse to call the Kiev junta NAZI, I call them butchers :D
It’s like saying “You are anti-semitic, you are a NAZI!” Just something to enslave the mind with…
Stupid labels.
Sorry for the rant, got a bit mad .with everyone talking about Batman’s regime being nationalist and what not. That’s definitely not a reason for anyone except the fifth Column in the Kremlin wanting to kill him.
Anonymous said…
on the theme that perhaps the reason for putin doing next-to-nothing (while crude continues collapsing, now right near $50) except cobbling trade deals these last months, lest he get the blame for directly causing any month now the next big financial collapse far bigger than 2008.
05 January, 2015 19:46
Um.
What makes you think it matters what he does. Did you see MH17? Who got the blame for that?
If they want to blame Putin for GFC2 they will do it – REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE DOES.
Given that, he should be going on the offense more rather than just continually reacting.
ACT rather than just REACT.
Hello Elgin Marbles. The opportunity is there. Gain a court injunction and return them to Greece in time – to the new Syriza Government who will rip Greece out of the Euro and collapse the euro fiat experiment.
Make it happen.
Saker I have to admit I’ve been waiting for days to read your thoughts on Batman’s murder.
I don’t understand a whole lot about war and military tactics but from the few times I’ve heard Batman speak I found him to be a very honest, level-headed man. He was one of the (now) few commanders that I really liked and felt was doing a good job. From the moment I read about his death I couldn’t shake the feeling things for the Novorossia project in general, and Lughansk in particular, are only going to get worse. (I hope this is just my pessimism talking.)
But the execution of the arrest warrant and the subsequent explanation of what happened during that very thorough “execution”(pun intended)sound very suspect to me. I for one don’t buy it for a second their orders were just to arrest Batman and his men. The location and timing of the ambush, the way it was carried out and the efficient getaway from the scene all scream premeditation to me. From the way I’m reading all this – what happened was a sanctioned execution coming from someone way up – someone with the motive and wherewithal to organize this.
And this is the point where all my certainties end since all the intricacies of this power struggle and high political games go way over my head. I can’t even be sure of all the players involved.
From what I’ve managed to gather though, people close to Batman seem to think there’s only one man responsible. For me the issue here is that with these murders all pretence of legitimacy of the authorities and of the rule of law just went straight out of the window.
Because regardless of whether Batman and his men really did what they’ve been accused of doing, this was murder and a pathetic act of cowardice. It’s always easy to rid yourself of an inconvenient person and then feel free to start slinging all the mud you can think of at the dead man. And with him being dead some of it’s bound to stick.
This murder is not only highly discrediting, but it just feeds into the narrative coming out of Kiev. It’s given them fodder to keep insisting there are no freedom fighters just terrorists with a penchant for nicking stuff. I can’t imagine it did a whole lot to boost the militia’s confidence in their governance either.
I’m beyond disappointed at the turn things are taking. I’m disgusted. I’d had the rather naive hope something better would be built here. Something that would be worth all the terror and suffering, all the lost lives. It’s becoming all too obvious to me there are powerful interests at play here. And so are all the typical plots and schemes and conspiracies that accompany any land with plentiful natural resources where a power vacuum is produced. Now that everything is up for grabs and battle lines are drawn and sides taken I wouldn’t be surprised if more “arrests” happened.
I just pray all the men who gave their lives to fight for their independence from a failed state didn’t do it just to help form a new failed one. May God stay with the people of Novorossia and keep them safe!
I FOUND THEM! The Bosnian Diaries. In an obscure Russian library that obtained them from the KGB Alpha veterans’ association.
Girkin was in Transnistria for the last seven weeks of the war, apparently bringing materiel. (There he met a lady professor and gun-runner who was arrested last spring at the border running guns to Slavyansk. He exchanged 20 Ukrs for her.) Highlight of Transnistria was bringing a guerrilla band a machine gun. They let him fire some blanks from it.
He was recruited for Bosnia by a co-religionist Ace Muharek in a volunteer group supposedly doing “location and rescue” — action described was mostly raiding isolated farms. End of Girkin’s second war, he still had not commanded troops or participated in 20th century combat.
After Bosnia he joined the FSB so was either seconded to Chechnya or had a watch-and-report brief there. He served as head of a security detail in a “special surveillance” outfit where his main duty was disappearing a few dozen civilians.
Off this non-command, non-combat history, he parachuted into the Donbass disguised as a Russian Army Colonel.
http://lib.ru/MEMUARY/JUGOSLAVIA/rdo2_1993.txt
@Kathie Parker,
Thanks for your comment, Kathie, totally agree.
I think the resignation of Plotsnisky should already be on the table, that, if he had a bit of decency, I fear not.
Someone else has noticed that whenever is questioned on this forum that Akhmetov conserves his power and properties (I’ve done in my comment) reappears our friend Cassandra with all their artillery against Strelkov, and now also against Batman?
I think Putin is tired of the mess Ukraine is causing and he will allow the conflict to be decided in favor of Kiev. If afterwards it turns into atrocities towards the Eastern people, he still can use that to point his finger and to reinforce his position ass Russian leader.
From the general strategy standpoint: the assassinaton of militia leaders seems to be a planted provocation that calls for Russian intervention. And it is exactly what Ukraine and the West want to happen.
From the moral and legal standpoint: any execution without a trial is a crime.
Who is responsable for both?
Obviously, the head of the state.
Batman’s militia were kidnapping innocent people in Lugansk and torturing them. Batman’s militia was confiscating property from common people, such as cars and retail stores. Batman was operating like the mafia.
My conclusion is that LNR had to kill Batman to stop this rogue militia from terrorising the people of Lungask. My opinion is Batman deserved to die.
We cannot have LNR fall into anarchy there must be order and respect of law!
@ Orthodox – If we are to follow your twisted logic maybe it’s time the whole world stopped messing about with mere formalities such as presumption of innocence, and putting people on trial so they could have a fair hearing before a verdict is passed. Surely in your evolved world we could dispense with judges and courtrooms and just go ahead and ask people as enligtened as yourself – namely those lurking on internet forums and blogs, about your expert opinion on who “deserves to die”. Then we could bump them off and be done with it.
Or should we consider adopting the thoroughly streamlined American approach to justice and simply order drones and joysticks in bulk and have them delivered to any corner of the world where someone is even suspected of “operating like the mafia”?
To Saker and everyone else who reads here – I’m sorry about the rant but I find it very difficult to keep quiet when I see such ignorant and hateful comments about people who are no longer with us but who deserve at least our respect for all the sacrifices they’ve made for Lugansk from the very first moments when this whole mess started!
May the memory of Batman and all those who died by his side live forever!
Вечная память героям Новороссии!
The first thought that came into my mind when I read the description of the ambush on Batman, was, “How did they know where he was?”
Solve that mystery, and the trail will narrow.
The over all problem in Ukraine and NovoRussia, besides being the design of the US/Saudis and Israeli, is Russia’s utter failure from before the Orange Revolution to now to comprehend the long range war plans against Russia by those who never forget and never forgive:
Those who got kicked out of the regioin hundreds of years ago, and seek to cleanse the place in preparation to re-establish themselves in their “homeland”.