Ukraine is offering a reward of $100,000 for tips leading to the transfer of Russian Igor Girkin to Ukraine. Girkin is also wanted by the Netherlands because of his alleged involvement in the MH17 plane crash.
This is reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on Telegram. Ukraine considers Girkin “one of the most famous Russian terrorists” and wants to try him for his “participation in the war against our state”. His “terrorist activities” are said to include torture, murder and “violation of state sovereignty.”
‘No war criminal will escape punishment’
Girkin played an important role in Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. According to Ukrainian media, he is currently at the front in eastern Ukraine. The ministry emphasizes on Telegram: “No war criminal will escape punishment.”
Girkin is said to have been appointed as the commander of a Russian unit in Ukraine. It is not known in which part of the country the pro-Russian hardliner is active. He had already wanted to go to the front to fight. Girkin is said to have been arrested in August when he was on his own way to the front lines near the city of Kherson. He thought that the Russians are just making a mess of it and for some time has not agreed with President Vladimir Putin, who according to him is not acting decisively enough.
No leaf for the mouth
Girkin hasn’t minced words in the neighboring country since the start of the war. When the battle had just been going on for a month, he went wild on the Russian channel OSN. The ‘special military operation’ is now 29 days old. None of the strategic goals have been achieved, only some operative ones. On the other hand, the opponent (Ukraine, ed.) carries out a successful mobilization and starts counterattacks. Unfortunately, I have to say that my most pessimistic forecasts have come true,” Girkin sighed.
MH17: one of the four main suspects
Girkin is also wanted by the Netherlands, which after a long investigation has identified him as one of the four main suspects for the downing of flight MH17. In the plane crash on 17 July 2014, all 298 people on board, including 193 Dutchmen, were killed. The plane was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, but was shot down over eastern Ukraine, where an armed battle was going on at the time.
The Public Prosecution Service has demanded a life sentence against Girkin. The court in The Hague will rule on November 17 in the case regarding flight MH17.
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