Igor Girkin (Strelkov) is best-remembered in the West for the MH-17 shootdown, but this terrorist did a lot more than that. Except arguably Putin himself, Girkin is single-handedly most responsible for the Ukraine War that took countless lives. Back in 2014, he led a sabotage group in Eastern Ukraine to start a rebellion. Not only that, but he refused even his own FSB orders to back down (when it could still be possible Putin would only claim Crimea) and instead continued the rebellion until it grew into a full regional war and went past the point of any negotiated compromise.
During his short tenure as the rebellion leader, he also personally ordered war crimes such as executing Ukrainian POWs. Following his return to Russia, he was sidelined as too extreme even for Putin, and continued stoking hatred of Ukraine. He was extasic when Russia invaded, but became furious once he realized Putin backed down on his plans to capture all of Ukraine, and settle “only” for the eastern half.
Even though Girkin has been sentenced for opposing Putin, rather than for his real crimes, and will not have to face his true victims, there is still some karma in him receiving at least a slimmer of accountability for the hurt and terror he had brought on so many others. To add insult to injury, his sentence was handed on Zelensky’s birthday in courtroom 404 (Russia’s insulting name for Ukraine, because they believe the country is “Not Found”), sending a clear message of mockery, and a parable that the country and nation he sought to destroy ended up his own undoing.
The Pickle got put in the can.
Play stupid games win stupid prizes
It’s interesting that now he will be safe, like Navalny
4 comments
Igor Girkin (Strelkov) is best-remembered in the West for the MH-17 shootdown, but this terrorist did a lot more than that. Except arguably Putin himself, Girkin is single-handedly most responsible for the Ukraine War that took countless lives. Back in 2014, he led a sabotage group in Eastern Ukraine to start a rebellion. Not only that, but he refused even his own FSB orders to back down (when it could still be possible Putin would only claim Crimea) and instead continued the rebellion until it grew into a full regional war and went past the point of any negotiated compromise.
During his short tenure as the rebellion leader, he also personally ordered war crimes such as executing Ukrainian POWs. Following his return to Russia, he was sidelined as too extreme even for Putin, and continued stoking hatred of Ukraine. He was extasic when Russia invaded, but became furious once he realized Putin backed down on his plans to capture all of Ukraine, and settle “only” for the eastern half.
Even though Girkin has been sentenced for opposing Putin, rather than for his real crimes, and will not have to face his true victims, there is still some karma in him receiving at least a slimmer of accountability for the hurt and terror he had brought on so many others. To add insult to injury, his sentence was handed on Zelensky’s birthday in courtroom 404 (Russia’s insulting name for Ukraine, because they believe the country is “Not Found”), sending a clear message of mockery, and a parable that the country and nation he sought to destroy ended up his own undoing.
The Pickle got put in the can.
Play stupid games win stupid prizes
It’s interesting that now he will be safe, like Navalny