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'''Become Minister of Interior, '''Arsen Avakov''' was [[Ukraine]]'s Minister of Internal Affairs from 2014 to 2021.  Between 2005 and 2010, Avakov was Governor of [[Kharkiv]] Oblast.

'''Arsen Avakov''' was [[Ukraine]]'s Minister of Internal Affairs from 2014 to 2021.  Between 2005 and 2010, Avakov was Governor of [[Kharkiv]] Oblast.

Avakov was one of the organizers of Euro 2012, authorized the formation of a paramilitary force of 12,000 men around the [[neo-Nazi]] hooligans of the "Sect 82" to defend the "[[revolution]]". On May 5, 2014, the [[Azov Battalion]] or "Eastern Corps" was officially formed under the command of [[Andriy Biletsky]]. The latter, known as the "White Führer", is a theoretician of [[Nazism]]. He had been the leader of the "Patriots of Ukraine", a neo-Nazi grouping that supported a Greater Ukraine and was violently anti-communist.<ref>https://www.sott.net/article/465322-Israel-stunned-by-Ukrainian-neo-Nazis</ref>

Avakov was one of the organizers of Euro 2012, authorized the formation of a paramilitary force of 12,000 men around the [[neo-Nazi]] hooligans of the "Sect 82" to defend the "[[revolution]]". On May 5, 2014, the [[Azov Battalion]] or "Eastern Corps" was officially formed under the command of [[Andriy Biletsky]]. The latter, known as the "White Führer", is a theoretician of [[Nazism]]. He had been the leader of the "Patriots of Ukraine", a neo-Nazi grouping that supported a Greater Ukraine and was violently anti-communist.<ref>https://www.sott.net/article/465322-Israel-stunned-by-Ukrainian-neo-Nazis</ref>

On June 14, 2024, the [[Russian Federation]] requested that Avakov be placed on [[Interpol]]'s wanted list for "the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare, aggravated [[murder]], the obstruction of professional activities of [[journalist]]s, and [[abduction]].<ref>[http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_06_21/Russia-puts-Ukraines-acting-interior-minister-Dnepropetrovsk-governor-on-intl-wanted-list-4457/ Russia puts Ukraine's interior minister, Dnepropetrovsk governor on int'l wanted list]". Voice of Russia. June 21, 2014.</ref>

On June 14, 2024, the [[Russian Federation]] requested that Avakov be placed on [[Interpol]]'s wanted list for "the use of prohibited means and methods of warfare, aggravated [[murder]], the obstruction of professional activities of [[journalist]]s, and [[abduction]].<ref>[http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_06_21/Russia-puts-Ukraines-acting-interior-minister-Dnepropetrovsk-governor-on-intl-wanted-list-4457/ Russia puts Ukraine's interior minister, Dnepropetrovsk governor on int'l wanted list]". Voice of Russia. June 21, 2014.</ref>

In March 2015, Avakov negotiated with the U.S. [[Pentagon]] for military training to be given by U.S. Special Forces to the Azov Regiment as part of Operation Fearless Guardian. Reps. [[John Conyers, Jr.]]  and [[Ted Yoho]] denounced the idea. They argued that arming [[Islamist]]s in [[Afghanistan]] had made possible the formation of [[al-Qaeda]] and the spread of [[terrorism]]. They convinced members of Congress that the [[United States]] could not train neo-Nazis without risking the consequences. The congressmen therefore forbade the Pentagon to pursue and arm the Azov Regiment with rocket launchers ([[MANPAD]]s) during the vote on the defense budget.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023503/https://conyers.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-passes-3-amendments-rep-conyers-defense-spending-bill-protect</ref>  Some Azov units received the training in [[Canada]].  However, the Pentagon succeeded in having the amendment withdrawn,<ref>https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/congress-has-removed-a-ban-on-funding-neo-nazis-from-its-year-end-spending-bill/</ref> prompting protests from the [[Simon Wiesnthal|Simon Wiesenthal Center]].

In March 2015, Avakov negotiated with the U.S. [[Pentagon]] for military training to be given by U.S. Special Forces to the Azov Regiment as part of Operation Fearless Guardian. Reps. [[John Conyers, Jr.]]  and [[Ted Yoho]] denounced the idea. They argued that arming [[Islamist]]s in [[Afghanistan]] had made possible the formation of [[al-Qaeda]] and the spread of [[terrorism]]. They convinced members of Congress that the [[United States]] could not train neo-Nazis without risking the consequences. The congressmen therefore forbade the Pentagon to pursue and arm the Azov Regiment with rocket launchers ([[MANPAD]]s) during the vote on the defense budget.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023503/https://conyers.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-passes-3-amendments-rep-conyers-defense-spending-bill-protect</ref>  Some Azov units received the training in [[Canada]].  However, the Pentagon succeeded in having the amendment withdrawn,<ref>https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/congress-has-removed-a-ban-on-funding-neo-nazis-from-its-year-end-spending-bill/</ref> prompting protests from the [[Simon Wiesenthal|Simon Wiesenthal Center]].

==References==

==References==