Kiev to Prosecute Two Russian Nationals As Terrorists

Kiev to Prosecute Two Russian Nationals As Terrorists

by Stephen Lendman

Perhaps the biggest Big Lie throughout months of Obama's proxy war on Donbass is nonexistent "Russian aggression."

Repeatedly, Moscow is accused of arming Donbass freedom fighters and aiding them with Russian combat troops.

No credible evidence surfaced at any time proving allegations the whole world knows are false.

At the same time, foreign nationals from many countries voluntarily help both sides - including non-or-former Russian military personnel aiding Donbass.

They weren't dispatched from Moscow - nor has Russia shown any inclination to get directly involved in Ukraine's war militarily. It’s gone all-out to end it diplomatically.

On Monday, Kiev claimed it captured two Russian soldiers in Donbass. Its military spokesman Andrey Lysenko said "(t)wo Russian servicemen have been arrested. Our investigators are interrogating them."

"The leadership of the Russian Federation will have difficulty saying these guys just got lost."

Kiev security official Markiyan Lubkivsky repeated the Big Lie, adding:

"We are completely certain and can state that these are citizens an servicemen of the Russian Federation."

The only evidence are torture-extracted confessions. Both men are held incommunicado at an unknown location. They were captured on May 17.

Lugansk People's Republic  officials said they were LPR militia members, not members of Russia's military. They displayed IDs proving it.

Russia denies all allegations about its forces involved in Ukraine's war on Donbass. No evidence suggests otherwise.

On Monday, Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "(w)e and the Defense Ministry have stated on numerous occasions that there are no Russian troops in Donbass."

Kiev, Washington and rogue NATO partners repeatedly lie claiming otherwise. Ukraine intends using captured Russian nationals as fabricated evidence of Moscow's nonexistent involvement.

"We have been informed about today's show, jointly staged by the armed forces of Ukraine and the SBU (security service) in regard to the detention of the two alleged Russian soldiers in the Lugansk region," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said.

"At the time of their arrest on May 17, the captured Russian individuals, Aleksandr Alexandrov and Yevgeni Yerofeeov, were not active members of the armed forces of the Russian Federation."

On Monday, Kiev alleged they were from the Russian General Staff main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) assigned to the 3rd Special Purpose Brigade in Tolyatti, Russia.

Both men are former Russian military personnel. They're now civilians. Russia's Defense Ministry said Kiev must stop extracting false confessions through torture.

Russia's Veterans Association of Special Forces demanded Kiev "stop SBU's abuse of the wounded to get a favorable testimony."

During months of conflict since April 2014, hundreds of Ukrainian forces crossed into Russia for safety. All were treated humanely. Those wishing to return home did so freely.

"We are counting on the good sense of the Ukrainian leadership and the speedy release of" both nationals, Russia's Defense Ministry added.

Kiev announced both men would be prosecuted for "terrorist activity and terrorist crimes." A video-taped torture-extracted confession showed Alexandrov saying he was on a spying mission in Ukraine as part of a 14-member Russian special forces group.

"We were discovered," he said. "I was wounded in the leg as I tried to get away…We've been here 4 - 5 days."

Vitoria Nuland "welcome(d) the Ukraine's government public statements that (both men) are being well taken care of" - despite evidence indicating they were tortured to confess to actions they didn't commit.

Confess or perhaps die, they were likely told while being severely beaten and otherwise abused.

Clear evidence of Kiev torture surfaced earlier - including graphic accounts of horrendous Kiev war crimes Western media ignore.

Surviving torture victims lucky enough to be released told harrowing accounts of their captivity.

They endured brutal beatings, broken bones, teeth ripped out, fractured skulls, electro-shocking, stabbings, branding with red-hot objects, held in freezing temperatures, mock executions, and no food and medical treatment.

It remains to be seen if both Russian nationals survive their ordeal and manage to return home.

A Final Comment

Moscow's embassy in Kiev demanded its consular staff have access to both detained Russian nationals - to help them as international law requires.

LPR's first deputy militia commander Sergey Kozlov demanded the immediate release of both men.

"Mistreatment of our (militia members) will not be left without consequences," he said. LPR forces "have always been humane towards all captives."

Kiev treats its prisoners brutally - civilians the same as militants. Russian nationals are especially mistreated. Survivors know Kiev ruthlessness best of all.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen [at] sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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