Plenty of sketchy foreign fighters have appeared as Russian-backed mercenaries in the war in eastern Ukraine. But Beness Aijo truly stands out. This internationally wanted Latvian extremist – nicknamed “Black Lenin” because of his radical left extremism and African heritage – has spent years on the Donbas frontlines.

But now, as the Kremlin signals a possible desire to settle the Donbas war with Ukraine, some Russian-backed mercenaries have found themselves looking for other gigs. Some former separatist “officials” have even taken on new roles inside Russia – and now Aijo has turned up in Russia too.

In February, Hromadske’s partner outlet Novaya Gazeta reported that Aijo made a surprise appearance at the Shiyes station in northern Russia, ground zero of the country’s environmental uprising.

Ignoring Interpol

On February 11, Aijo arrived in the town of Urdoma, in Russia’s northern Arkhangelsk region. He entered Russia using a passport from the unrecognized “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DPR), but law enforcement detained him almost immediately for another reason – there’s an Interpol notice for his arrest.

Photo: Dmitry Tkachuk / URA.RU / TASS

Latvia has been after Aijo for years. He currently has four pending criminal charges – including being indicted for participating in the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine and for attempting to overthrow the Latvian government.

Nevertheless, his detention in Russia was short-lived. He was released within two days after State Duma Deputy Sergei Shargunov (a former “commissioner” in the “DPR”) and left-wing writer Zakhar Prilepin intervened on his behalf.

© 2020 Hromadske International

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