In a surprising turn of events, Igor Girkin, a prominent Russian military blogger and former official in the separatist so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in Ukraine, has been arrested in Moscow. The arrest was confirmed by a message attributed to his wife, Miroslava Reginskaya, and posted on his Telegram account, as well as in Russian news reports.
Girkin, also known by the nom de guerre Igor Strelkov, was reportedly taken from his apartment by Russian security officials on Friday morning. According to his wife's statement, Girkin is being charged with "extremism". The arrest comes amid Girkin's open criticism of Russia's military strategy and setbacks in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022.
Girkin is a former colonel in Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and served as defense minister in the DPR in eastern Ukraine. His role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 led to a Dutch court sentencing him in absentia to life in prison for mass murder. All 298 people onboard were killed.
The arrest was reportedly carried out at the request of a former member of the notorious paramilitary outfit the Wagner Group, which is headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin. However, this information could not be immediately verified.
Days before his arrest, Girkin had made a statement that Russia would not survive another presidential term by Putin. He shifted his criticism from the Russian president's military decisions to his overall leadership of the country. "The country will not survive another six years of this cowardly mediocrity in power," Girkin said on Tuesday.
The Kremlin has not commented on reports of Girkin's arrest. The arrest of Girkin, who has been openly critical of Putin's regime, sends a strong message about the current state of freedom of speech in Russia. It remains to be seen how this arrest will impact the ongoing discourse about Putin's leadership and Russia's military strategy in Ukraine.
