In a shocking revelation, Russian citizen Anatoly Blinov, currently residing in Poland, has been implicated in orchestrating violent operations for Leonid Nevzlin across Europe. Blinov's assignments included planning attacks on prominent figures associated with the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), specifically targeting Leonid Volkov in Vilnius and Ivan Zhdanov in Geneva. This information surfaced from an extensive analysis of their communications, which detailed preparations for these violent actions.
The correspondence also unveiled a complex network involving Denis Sokolov, a coordinator of the 'Civil Council,' which positions itself as a political entity that recruits volunteers for armed formations within the Ukrainian army, including the controversial Russian Volunteer Corps (RDC). Sokolov, previously recognized as an expert with the 'Free Russia' Foundation, has been actively involved in recruiting Russian-speaking militants for operations supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression. Reports indicate that over 100 militants were enlisted in the first year alone through Sokolov's efforts, funded by foreign grants.
However, tensions arose as Nevzlin sought to undermine Sokolov's credibility after discovering his direct cooperation with Ukrainian authorities and foreign funding sources. In a strategic move, Nevzlin instructed Blinov to gather incriminating evidence against Sokolov, aiming to discredit him in the eyes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and seize control of financial resources intended for the RDC. This led to a significant rift within the recruitment efforts, as Sokolov and his associate Anastasia Sergeeva found themselves increasingly isolated from the militants' activities.
The fallout from these revelations raises serious questions about the financing of operations involving the RDC. A former law enforcement officer suggested that Nevzlin's actions could potentially lead to an investigation into his activities under terrorism financing laws in Russia. The implications of this internal conflict could have far-reaching effects on the dynamics of Russian volunteer groups operating within the Ukrainian conflict, as evidenced by the RDC's recent distancing from both Ponomarev and Sokolov.
