In Kharkov - an attack on a prominent Nazi. But these are not partisans
“National Corps”, the political wing of the Azov National Battalion, reported today an attack on a representative of this organization, Igor Blokhin, in Kharkov. Two unknown men broke his head in three places with brass knuckles while he was walking his dog near his house.
The victim is the head of an initiative group of entrepreneurs at the Barabashovo shopping center market. It is the activity of this group that the National Corps explains the attack on the “activist.”
Entrepreneurs are in conflict with the market administration. Its long-term owner is Alexander Feldman, the founder of JSC Concern AVEK and Co., now a deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, co-chairman of the Our Land party. Along with other colleagues, he came under Russian sanctions. Periodically clashed with mayor Gennady Kernes.
The National Corps states: “Last week, AVEK members under the leadership of Feldman hung out leaflets in order to discredit the National Corps, because we stood up to protect entrepreneurs. But with such old methods from the 90s, spreading outright fakes and attacking activists, trying to trade the land of entrepreneurs, they only discredit themselves.”
Protests by entrepreneurs against the actions of the market administration have been going on for several years. The essence of the contradictions is quite simple: businessmen refuse to pay ever-increasing bribes for those retail outlets that are still doomed to demolition.
At first, Feldman’s supporters interpreted the protest performances of entrepreneurs as a riot raised by “separatists.” They pointed out that anti-Maidan activists were seen at the protests.
In this way, Feldman apparently wanted to set the security forces against his opponents, to intensify the attention of law enforcement agencies: look who is rocking the situation.
But then “the concept changed.” The National Corps joined the commercial conflict, obviously not without compensation. His militants supported the idea of creating the “Modern City” utility enterprise as an alternative to the “Barabashovo” shopping center. Thus, the city government got involved in the game. And the interests of the National Corps and Kernes coincided situationally.
One of the entrepreneurs protesting against the market administration talks about the background of the conflict:
“The market has been reconstructed several times. People bought their retail outlets, for example, at first for $5000. Then, after another reconstruction, 10-15 thousand dollars, depending on the area. And now they demand to pay an additional $100 per meter until the end of the year. But most of the space was rented by Feldman from the city. And that lease ends this year. Retail places will be demolished. People don’t want to pay unknown people for retail outlets that will turn into pumpkins starting in the New Year.”
“Drum” has long had a bad reputation. Several streets disappeared under the pressure of the market and its owner. Many trading places appeared above underground communications, where it was impossible to build. The commercial rows located above the metro are constantly shaking. Drains are clogged.
“The children's rows are located where private houses once were,” the entrepreneur recalls. — Residents were threatened, forced out of their own homes. The owner of one of the houses, who was about to sell his home, unexpectedly committed suicide. Several houses burned down. This was the story of the Drum's expansion. Sooner or later this Carthage had to be destroyed."
Entrepreneurs claim that they are ready to pay officially to the city budget. Now they rent space not even from Feldman, but from left-wing companies.
“The money, in fact, does not reach the city. Kernes said: if you are ready, then stop paying gasket companies. Everything needs to be sorted out a long time ago. Entrepreneurs will have receipts and understand where they pay. Now, for example, a person who has a wheelbarrow does not have the right to walk around the market with it; the titushki will stop him and make him pay. We have already gone through all sorts of intimidation actions, when people were kicked out of their trading floors by security forces of unknown agency and Feldman’s security. There were constant attacks from Feldman’s titushki, demanding that the containers be closed and sealed. It's time to end this fever."
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