Azov (Ukraine)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
563
|
| Country: |
Ukraine |
| Date formed: |
April 1, 2014 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
month
|
| Details of Formation: |
The group became a PGM when the Interior Ministry under Arsen Avakov started supporting it. |
| Date dissolved: |
Oct. 9, 2014 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
day
|
| Details of Termination: |
The Interior Ministry officially integrated the group into the National Guard in November 2014, although there are reports stating that this process started in October 2014. |
| Termination Type(s): |
integrated into regular forces
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
no |
| Former Armed Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
not applicable
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
none
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
not applicable
|
Other Information
| Other Information: |
The group was linked to Interior Ministry and People's Front Party. It was also linked to the Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko, but this party was not in government until November 2014. There is diverging information about whether it was founded by the Interior Ministry or by like-minded patriots. The group had a strong radical nationalist ideology, used neo-Nazi symbols and had ties to radical right-wing groups. It is sometimes referred to as a private army of oligarchs. According to the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov the group participated in an attack on the Russian Embassy in Ukraine. Some members were from a variety of other European countries and Russia. Related organisations were the Azov Civil Corps (an NGO) and the political party National Corps. The PGM was based in Mariupol (Donetsk region). It was also referred to as “little black men”. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The special-purpose battalion was intended to fight armed rebels in the separatist regions, supporting the regular army, and performing tasks such as self-defence and conducting reconnaissance and combat operations. It also guarded police stations, protected borders and was used by the Interior Ministry to participate in the government’s antiterrorist operation. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
faster mobilization
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
Human Rights Watch accused the group of unlawful detention, torture, and enforced disappearances. The United Nations also reports unlawful detention and torture, as well as mass looting, rape and the targeting of civilians. The PGM was suspected of ordering attacks on civilians by Russian investigations. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
kidnapping/abductions; killing; torture; sexual violence
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no |
| PGM Members Paid? |
yes |
| Reasons for Membership: |
Members came from different backgrounds and were reportedly motivated by the commitment to taking the fight for their country into their own hands. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
In May 2014 the group had roughly 60 members, a later report estimates the number at 120. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
The group was armed with automatic weapons, artillery guns and other heavy weaponry by the Defence Ministry and also received training. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The group was subordinated to the Interior Ministry. It received financial assistance from oligarch and Dnipropetrovsk governor Ihor Kolomoyskyi and oligarch Serhiy Taruta. The commander of the PGM was Andriy Biletsky and there were suspected ties to Oleh Lyashko of the Radical Party. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Human Rights Watch. 2016a. “Human Rights Watch Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.” https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/07/12/human-rights-watch-letter-prime-minister-justin-trudeau
Human Rights Watch. 2016b. “Arbitrary Detentions, Enforced Disappearances, and Torture in Eastern Ukraine.” July 21, 2016. https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/07/21/you-dont-exist/arbitrary-detentions-enforced-disappearances-and-torture-eastern
Human Rights Watch. 2017. “World Report 2017: Ukraine.” https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/ukraine
Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.
Evidence
