Bosnian police have arrested a
Russian citizen suspected of being one of the instructors who
allegedly gave theoretical training to groups of Moldovan
citizens at a training camp near Banja Luka, capital of
Republika Srpska (Rs), the Serb-majority entity of
Bosnia-Herzegovimna (BiH). The arrest, ANSA has learned, took
place in the area of Bihac and Bosanska Krupa, in northwestern
BiH close to the border with Croatia. Aleksandr Bezrukhovny,
this is the name of the arrested Russian, has reportedly been
under surveillance by Bosnian security and intelligence services
for some time. Wanted by Interpol, he was stopped as he was
probably preparing to leave Bosnia-Herzegovina. A work permit
issued by Spanish authorities was found in his possession. In
recent times there have been alternating confirmations and
denials on reports of the existence on the territory of the Rs
of training and educational camps for Moldovan citizens by
Russian instructors. Not military camps, but places of
'theoretical' teaching on organization and behavior at rallies
and events. News these regularly denied by the Bosnian Serb
leadership, starting with Milorad Dodik, Bosnian Serb leader and
president of the Rs, whose pro-Russian positions and friendship
with President Vladimir Putin are well known. According to
reports leaked in recent weeks, Moldovan police are reportedly
investigating about 100 young men who allegedly received
'theoretical' training in Russia, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Last month Moldova's intelligence services also reportedly
identified 11 foreign nationals active as instructors and
assistants in camps in Serbia and BiH. Moldovan police for
their part have allegedly released footage of such alleged
training sessions in camps in Russia, Serbia and BiH in which
young people are seen engaged in simulated protests, chanting
slogans such as 'our language is Russian,' 'no dual
citizenship,' 'we don't want Europe.' The videos would also show
young people intent on learning how to make explosives and use
drones. A reference evidently to Transnistria, a pro-Russian
region of Moldova that proclaimed itself independent in 1990.
Such a network of camps and instructors is said to have been
financed by Ilan Shor, a fugitive pro-Russian oligarch wanted in
Moldova for his involvement in the theft in recent years of some
$1 billion from the former Soviet republic's banking system.
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