Russian Puppet, Alexander Borodai steps down

[LarryW]

This is the same compassionate Slave to Peace who, when he arrived from the Kremlin said: "I am the authority. I have no problems... If they do not understand that, that's their problem. I am a professional in making (people) understand."

Russian resigns to make way for Ukrainian as new head of 'Donetsk People's Republic': Alexander Borodai steps down as prime minister of self-styled republic in move aimed at dampening accusations that rebellion in east is being run by Moscow. Kyiv Post reports

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...oples-republic

The Russian prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic has announced his resignation in a move aimed at dampening claims that the rebellion in eastern Ukraine is being masterminded by Moscow.

Borodai, a Russian national, steps down amid growing tensions from within the separatists’ ranks and as Ukrainian government forces move to encircle the city of Donetsk.

He will be replaced by Alexander Zakharchenko, a Ukrainian citizen from Donetsk Oblast and member of the militant group Oplot, who has been a major player in the insurgency against Kiev’s government forces since its military offensive began in April.

Wearing a black t-shirt with his trademark blue blazer, Borodai told journalists inside the rebel headquarters in Donetsk yesterday that he came to eastern Ukraine “as a crisis manager,” and claimed that under his leadership “the Donetsk People’s Republic became a state.”

Flanked by Zakharchenko, Borodai said, “I am a Muscovite. Donbass should be led by a genuine Donetsk native.”

However, Borodai made it clear that he would remain closely involved. He added “that even if I spend much of my time in Moscow I will serve” the self-styled republic as first deputy prime minister and an advisor to Zakharchenko, who wore a striped t-shirt of the kind worn by the Russian navy, and the cross of St George, a Russian military decoration.

Borodai is one of many Russian citizens with close ties to Moscow and Russian intelligence services. Before arriving in eastern Ukraine, he was an advisor to Sergey Aksyonov, the current acting head of Crimea appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March, and a consultant for an investment fund in Moscow, where he also owns a restaurant chain.

He is also a close confidant of Igor Girkin, better known by his nom de guerre Strelkov, meaning “the shooter,” who is the military commander of the Donetsk region. The two men, both Muscovites, fought together in Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria in the early 1990s.

(Cont.)

Well, I'm glad Borodai got that cleared up. I was beginning to wonder.

[akv]

What a noble salagi