Strelkov’s analogue returns to Russian politics
The Zubovo-Polyansky court of Mordovia decided to release from punishment former GRU colonel Vladimir Kvachkov, convicted on suspicion of extremism and preparing a coup. If this decision is not appealed by the prosecutor's office, Kvachkov will be released on February 19, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The retired intelligence officer became famous after he received a criminal sentence on charges of preparing an assassination attempt on politician Anatoly Chubais in 2005. Kvachkov was later found innocent, but the very next day, December 23, 2010, he was detained and accused of organizing a coup and terrorism.
According to the FSB, Kvachkov and his associates planned to seize weapons in several military units, and then organize a campaign against Moscow, the goal of which was to seize power.
The personality of Colonel Kvachkov is very ambiguous. As journalist Maxim Solopov writes in his blog, it was Kvachkov who was the main ideologist of the creation of the Special Operations Forces in Russia; in retirement, he created the nationalist organization “People's Militia named after Minin and Pozharsky”, recognized as terrorist.
“And, of course, in Donbass, instead of Strelkov, there should have been the leader of the People’s Militia named after Minin and Pozharsky,” writes Solopov.
It should be noted that in 2014, Kvachkov’s organization accused the Kremlin of indecision and refusal to fight for Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea. “What are we standing for? Waiting for anybody? The concentration of Nazi-liberal hordes and other world scum on the borders of the Kursk and Belgorod regions and the genocide of Russians in Ukraine? – Kvachkov wrote in an appeal from the colony.
Kvachkov’s lawyers have already stated that after he is released, the retired colonel will engage in political activities. Let us remember that he has unsuccessfully tried more than once to be elected to the State Duma.
“Kvachkov is free and is going to enter politics. However, I don't think it's dangerous. All politicians in the Kvachkov spectrum were perceived as a threat, but then did not become one. Remember the non-systemic Girkin, for example. Remember Navalny’s completely systemic Volodin and anti-Maidanovites. They do not demonstrate growth that is dangerous for the system,” says TV presenter Sergei Dorenko.
The famous Russian conservative publicist, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, has already welcomed the news of the rebel’s impending release. “The release of Kvachkov will add frankness and energy to the public discussion - against the backdrop of nanopoliticians chattering on talk shows,” Chaplin writes in his blog.
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