America alters laws on Ukrainian neo-Nazi utilizing its arms
Date
6/12/2024 8:36:32 AM
(MENAFN) In a significant policy shift, the United States State Department has decided to permit the delivery of American weapons to Ukraine's Azov Brigade, despite the unit's documented ties to ultranationalist and neo-Nazi ideologies. Previously, the flow of arms to the Azov Brigade had been restricted due to concerns over its members' association with hateful beliefs.
The decision to lift the ban came after a thorough review process, during which the Azov Brigade underwent Leahy vetting conducted by the United States Department of State. This vetting is mandated by legislation that prohibits military aid to units implicated in human rights violations. According to a statement provided to the Washington Post, the State Department found "no evidence" of such violations committed by the Azov Brigade.
Reports indicate that Ukrainian officials had prioritized the lifting of the ban on arms delivery to the Azov Brigade during their lobbying efforts. The brigade, originally founded as a volunteer battalion in 2014, played a prominent role in the conflict with the breakaway republics of Donbass following Ukraine's Western-backed coup in Kiev.
Criticism surrounding the Azov Brigade stems from its core membership, which includes active and former members of ultranationalist and neo-Nazi groups, as well as far-right football hooligans. Co-founder Andrey Biletsky's past association with a white supremacist organization in the 2000s further exacerbates concerns about the brigade's ideological leanings. Although Biletsky has since distanced himself from overt neo-Nazism, many Azov fighters continue to display Nazi tattoos and symbols linked to the Third Reich.
Notably, the brigade's continued use of banners featuring the Wolfsangel symbol—a motif associated with several German divisions during World War II, including the infamous 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich—has drawn condemnation and raised questions about its ideological orientation.
Despite these controversies, the Azov Brigade was integrated into Ukraine's National Guard in 2015 and has experienced significant growth in size and influence over the years. The State Department's decision to lift restrictions on arms delivery to the brigade reflects a calculated shift in US policy towards Ukraine, albeit one that has sparked debate and raised concerns about the implications of supporting a unit with ties to extremist ideologies.
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