Changes are being made amongst the leadership of the rebel pro-Russian separatists, just as Russia is claiming to 'co-operate' with investigations in the MH17 tragedy. Ukrainian-born rebel leaders have been eased out and replaced by Russian-national leaders.
Vladimir Antyufeyev, seasoned in the pro-Russian separatist movement in Moldova and a war between Russia and Georgia, replaced Donetsk native, Alexander Khodakovsky, as the top security person in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. Denis Pushilin, another local once titled the republic's president, was dismissed. This all came about by 10 July, after Aleksander Borodai, a Russian national, left the separatists in Donetsk for Moscow for political consultations. He described as 'successful talks' with unnamed people there.
Antyufeyev earned a fearsome reputation when he served in Transdniestria, which split from Moldova in 1990, as the head of security operations for 20 years. He was blacklisted by the EU over his role in Transdniestria in 2004. That decision was suspended, but now the EU has imposed assets freezes and a travel ban on him based on his role in Ukraine. But this has not stopped him from maintaining his current leadership role in Donetsk.
Indeed, Putin's Russia is strengthening its hold over Donetsk, meanwhile proclaiming to the cameras and international press that they are working for 'peace'. Yes, the same 'peace' that Stalin spoke of, that Pinochet proclaimed, that Kissinger championed and the word on the lips of Suharto, Montt, Mugabe, Blair, Bush ... Peace? Peace. I hate the word, as I hate hell, all [dictators], and thee [Putin].
Isn't it clear now how Putin has managed to lead the world to forget about Crimea? He annexed the territory of another sovereign nation-state, and yet now, with violence, terror and anarchy continuing in Donetsk as well as the murder and atrocity being committed against Palestinians by Israel in Gaza, Crimea is forgotten. Will Crimea Tatars live like the Palestinians, in fear of their life and their homes due to an invading nation that has proclaimed itself as the legitimate governor of the region? Russia, like Israel, has no fear of the 'international community'. And with this apparent immunity, both continue their reign of terror over the people whose land they invaded and annexed. As the 'rest of the world' sits by, and the European and American powers continue legitimising murderous regimes for fear of losing out on economic deals and business opportunities.
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