Russian Defense Ministry sees statement of Ukrainian interior minister's advisor as aiding terrorism
MOSCOW. Oct 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry has commented on the appeal of the Ukrainian interior minister's advisor Anton Herashchenko for disclosing the personal data of Russian servicemen in Syria.
The Ukrainian official "is actually aiding the international terrorist organization ISIL," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov has said.
This statement by Herashchenko "has surprised many, not only in Ukraine but also in Europe and the Middle East," the general said.
The State Duma and the Federation Council have called for starting a criminal inquiry into Herashchenko's statements. State Duma Security and Anti-Corruption Committee Chairperson Irina Yarovaya applied to the Russian Investigative Committee to open a criminal case against Herashchenko on counts of "aiding and abetting terrorists, and calling for terrorism," Yarovaya's press service has said.
According to Yarovaya, the appeals of Herashchenko carry all the formal elements of the crime specified by the article "public appeals for terrorism or public justification of terrorism by the use of mass media." "They are being made in the form of appeals to other people for inciting them to terrorism. In addition, his conduct demonstrates elements of aiding and abetting terrorists because he is actually aiding terror attacks by the provision of information," the parliamentarian said.
In the opinion of Federation Council Defense and Security Committee Deputy Chairman Franz Klintsevich, "The Russian Investigative Committee has every ground to open a criminal case against Herashchenko." "To call a spade a spade, his actions directly aid ISIL terrorists and he is their finger man. This is happening with the support of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry and security service," Klintsevich said.