A Russian army blogger has died in an obvious suicide after dealing with a barrage of criticism for revealing heavy losses in Ukraine, and his supporters have blamed Kremlin propagandists for his demise.
Andrei Morozov, who additionally served as a soldier on the entrance line in Ukraine, stated in his final put up Wednesday that he determined to “execute” himself to assist his comrades in arms keep away from fallout from his vital publications, which had angered the army command. Maxim Pashkov, a lawyer who knew him, confirmed Morozov’s demise in a messaging app assertion, saying that he shot himself lifeless. Morozov was 44 years previous.
Morozov, who glided by the nickname Murz, stated in a latest put up that about 16,000 Russian troops have been killed and the army misplaced about 300 armored automobiles since October when the four-month battle for the jap stronghold of Avdiivka started. Russian troops captured Avdiivka over the weekend after Ukrainian troops pulled again.
Morozov’s remarks drew indignant feedback from a high TV present host on Russian state TV and others who referred to as for him to be prosecuted for “discrediting” the army. A number of fellow bloggers blamed those that attacked Morozov for his demise.
In his final put up earlier than killing himself that he posted on his channel in Telegram, Morozov stated he was compelled by army officers to take away his put up concerning the Russian losses. He harshly criticized the army command for turning a blind eye to losses and ignoring troops’ wants.
Alexander Kofman, head of the Public Chamber within the Moscow-controlled a part of the Donetsk area, described Morozov’s suicide as a “enormous mistake” in an announcement on his messaging app channel.
Morozov’s demise got here as Russian authorities have develop into more and more illiberal forward of March’s election through which President Vladimir Putin is all however sure to win one other six-year time period. It additionally follows chief Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny ‘s demise on Friday in an Arctic jail that induced a world outrage and dealt a heavy blow to the beleaguered Russian opposition.
Russian conflict bloggers like Morozov have supplied a extra factual different to terse statements from army officers and a circulation of propaganda on state TV channels, giving detailed accounts of the combating. Whereas all of them ardently supported the Kremlin’s conflict in Ukraine, they provided a glimpse into issues confronted by Russian troops and assailed the army management for ill-conceived ways and neglect for troopers’ wants.
Many Russian army bloggers have been supportive of mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin who had scathingly criticized the highest army brass after which launched a brief mutiny in June that noticed his Wagner personal contractors march on Moscow to oust the highest army leaders.
Most conflict bloggers toned down their criticism of army officers after Prigozhin’s demise in a suspicious air crash two months after his insurrection, which was broadly seen as revenge by the Kremlin.
One of the crucial widespread conflict commentators, Igor Strelkov, was handed a four-year jail sentence final month on fees of extremism after he referred to as Putin a “nonentity” and an individual of “cowardly mediocrity.” He argued {that a} whole mobilization is required for Russia to realize victory and accused the Kremlin of indecision and weak spot.
Strelkov, whose actual title is Girkin, is a retired safety officer who led Moscow-backed separatists in jap Ukraine in 2014 and was convicted of homicide within the Netherlands for his function within the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet that 12 months.
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