Former commander of Russian backed separatist forces Igor Girkin who shot down Malaysia Airways Flight MH17 FINALLY imprisoned – however solely as a result of he criticised Vladimir Putin

A former Russian separatist commander who shot down Malaysia Airways Flight MH17 has lastly been imprisoned – however solely as a result of he criticised President Vladimir Putin.

Igor Girkin, higher recognized by his nom de guerre Igor Strelkov, is a staunch supporter of the invasion of Ukraine however he mentioned this week that Putin ought to stand down earlier than the presidential elections in March.

‘The nation will not survive one other six years with this talentless coward in energy,’ the pro-war blogger wrote.

Girkin and three others had been discovered responsible of taking pictures down Flight MH17 over jap Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board. 

He was sentenced to life in jail at a court docket within the Hague final yr with out attending the trial. Russia, which denies any involvement within the downing of the airplane, had refused to extradite Girkin.

Igor Girkin (C), higher recognized by his nom de guerre Igor Strelkov, has been charged with inciting extremist exercise

Girkin mentioned this week that Putin (pictured) ought to stand down earlier than the presidential elections in March.

However virtually 10 years after the nationalist was blamed for blowing the Boeing 777 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpar out of the sky, he appeared behind a glass cage in a Moscow courtroom on Friday on expenses of ‘public requires extremism’.

His spouse mentioned that he was detained at their Moscow flat whereas she was out. In footage from court docket posted by the favored Telegram channel Shot, Girkin stood virtually immobile behind the glass along with his arms folded, staring straight forward.

The hardline response by Putin comes after the Russian despot survived an tried coup from warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin and his personal Wagner military final month. 

Though each have been crucial of Russia’s defence chiefs, Girkin accused Prigozhin of treason. He was detained after a Wagner mercenary knowledgeable police about his feedback on Putin. 

Girkin, who took half within the 2014 annexation of Crimea, has usually criticised the conduct of the Ukraine invasion on the messaging app Telegram, the place he’s adopted by round 875,000 folks.

He had been regarded by many as untouchable because of his historical past and ties to the authorities, however had turn into extra outspoken in current months. 

By opening a case in opposition to him, observers mentioned authorities had been sending a sign that any criticism – even from supporters of the navy operation in Ukraine – are off-limits within the aftermath of the Wagner mercenary group’s short-lived rebel.

A Moscow court docket ordered Girkin to be positioned in detention pending a trial on expenses of inciting extremist exercise that might land him in jail for 5 years.

‘Justice in our nation, as soon as once more, has not triumphed’ his lawyer Alexander Molokhov informed reporters outdoors the Meshchansky Courtroom in Moscow.

Molokhov mentioned the defence would enchantment the court docket’s choice and defined the case in opposition to his consumer was based mostly on two social media posts during which Girkin mentioned Russian-annexed Crimea and military provides.

Girkin (pictured in 2014) was one of many key figures within the pro-Kremlin insurgency when combating broke out in jap Ukraine in 2014

Girkin and three others had been discovered responsible of taking pictures down Flight MH17 over jap Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board. Pictured: Folks stroll amongst the particles of the crash web site

Girkin’s arrest seems to be the start of a crackdown from Moscow in opposition to ultra-nationalists who’ve been allowed to be crucial of Russia’s defence chiefs.

On Tuesday, retired colonel Vladimir Kvachkov was charged with discrediting the military after accusing Putin of sending Russian troops to their deaths in Ukraine and changing them with Muslim migrants from central Asia.

A number of dozen supporters of Girkin gathered across the court docket on Friday, with at the very least one detained.

‘The repressive machine has gone into full gear, that is an excuse to knock him out from public work,’ mentioned Pavel Gubarev, head of the ‘Membership of Offended Patriots’ that Girkin co-founded – and that Kvachkov can be a member of.

Shortly earlier than being detained, Gubarev mentioned Girkin’s supporters would combat utilizing all authorized means.

‘Igor Ivanovich Strelkov is not simply not an extremist: he’s a patriot who has gone by means of 5 wars within the pursuits of Russia.’

A former FSB colonel, Girkin was one of many key figures within the pro-Kremlin insurgency when combating broke out in jap Ukraine in 2014.

Girkin dominated the then-rebel stronghold of Sloviansk with an iron fist, with executions for petty theft reportedly carried out underneath his rule.

Girkin’s detention comes round a month after the tried mutiny Wagner, from which the Kremlin emerged visibly weakened

However he was squeezed out of the separatist management later that yr underneath mysterious circumstances and returned to Russia, the place he misplaced all affect, till the offensive started.

Girkin got here again to the highlight after the start of the offensive, changing into probably the most vocal critics of Putin and of the way in which during which Russia’s offensive in Ukraine has been performed.

In response to Girkin urging Putin at hand over energy to a successor, independent political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya mentioned Girkin had ‘lengthy crossed all doable pink strains’.

However his detention comes round a month after the tried mutiny Wagner, from which the Kremlin emerged visibly weakened.

Prigozhin was probably the most strident voice for these inside Russia criticising failures in Russia’s marketing campaign and the methods utilized by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and military chief Valery Gerasimov.

The Kremlin crackdown comes after Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured) and his Wagner military failed in an tried coup 

Girkin denounced Prigozhin’s mutiny however saved on criticising the incompetence of Russia’s typical navy commanders.

The case in opposition to Girkin ‘is without doubt one of the penalties of Prigozhin’s rebel: the military acquired extra political alternatives to suppress its opponents within the public area,’ Stanovaya mentioned.

She didn’t anticipate mass arrests however mentioned: ‘Probably the most radical ones could also be prosecuted, in order that the remainder will probably be extra cautious.’

Criticism of Russia’s assault on Ukraine has been outlawed and all key liberal opposition figures are both behind bars or in exile.

‘The authorities determined that uncontrolled ultra-patriots are not any much less harmful than the extra-systemic liberal opposition,’ mentioned political analyst Ilya Gerashchenkov.