In Kyiv, they did not rule out an assault on Avakov’s house
After yesterday's march Ukrainian radicals in Ukraine are finding out whether a black cat ran between the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Arsen Avak and the radicals from the “National Corps”, formed on the basis of the neo-Nazi “Azov” regiment.
Thus, former Azov militant, Verkhovna Rada deputy Oleg Petrenko told the Kyiv online newspaper "Country"that relations with Avakov have gone beyond constructive.
“We had a working relationship with the Minister of the Interior. I still believe that in 2014 he took on serious responsibility for creating volunteer battalions and gave weapons to unprofessional military personnel. But I evaluate his work as minister differently. I am critical of police reform. And there has never been any applause for him on this occasion from representatives of our political force,” asserts Petrenko.
However, he added that during search of the headquarters of the National Corps in Kyiv the police behaved like bestials, and the search itself could not be carried out without the sanction of the minister.
However, the publication writes that it is hard to believe that Avakov himself would want to voluntarily give up control of the “private” army, which he created for three years, and in the creation of the infrastructure of which, according to rumors, he invested millions of dollars. Moreover, patronage of volunteer battalions is one of Avakov’s trump cards in negotiations with other government officials.
Ukrainian political experts share a similar opinion.
According to political scientist Ruslan Bortnik, today it is beneficial for Biletsky and Avakov for the National Corps to appear independent. One in order to show the West that it has distanced itself from radical elements and does not have private armies, the second allows it to work more actively in the opposition niche.
“But how deep this independence is is difficult to say. I do not exclude such a development that the National Corps will storm Avakov’s house, but I also do not exclude the situation that the squads will act entirely on Avakov’s instructions. In any case, the right-wing public demands some action. The audience asks them the question: “What have you done in 4 years?” and therefore these marches are a release of steam from this environment,” says Bortnik.
Political scientist Andrei Zolotarev doesn’t really believe in the disagreement between neo-Nazis and Avakov.
“It is impossible to reject the version that the brainchild could outgrow its creator. But if I were a political strategist for the National Corps, I would deliberately emphasize its independence wherever possible. Therefore, I believe that only the most naive people can believe in the independence of the right. This was the case during the time of the previous government, and this is also the case today; our right-wingers have their own fathers from among the government officials who patronize them,” Zolotarev said.
According to him, the “National Corps” is really flexing its muscles, and paramilitary associations are becoming one of the political factors that will definitely play out closer to the elections.”
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