Akhmetov Asked Surkov to Hand “DPR” Over to Zakharchenko - Media

Akhmetov asked Surkov to hand “DPR” over to Zakharchenko - media

Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov asked a close associate of the Russian president, Vladislav Surkov, to appoint Oleksandr Zakharchenko as the head of the “DPR.”

This is reported by the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, citing its sources within Vladimir Putin’s administration.

According to a source, it was Ukraine’s wealthiest oligarch, Rinat Akhmetov, who asked Surkov on behalf of Zakharchenko.

“And although there were other candidates (such as Oleksandr Khodakovskyi), they decided to stop at the unremarkable leader of the Donetsk branch of the fighting organization ‘Oplot,’” the publication writes.

The paper recalls that this organization was founded in Kharkiv by former Party of Regions MP Oleksandr Bobkov. The name Serhiy Arbuzov, who now lives in Moscow, also appears among the founders.

As the publication’s source noted, “with the start of the unrest in Donbas, the financing of ‘Oplot’ was taken over by people from Rinat Akhmetov’s circle.”

It was “Oplot” that guarded assets belonging to the billionaire and the Donetsk city executive committee building, where mayor Oleksandr Lukyanchenko—friendly to Akhmetov—was based.

As is known, NG reported that Russia completely abandoned the idea of “independence” for the eastern regions of Ukraine, and Surkov is trying to “push” them back under Kyiv’s control.

Earlier, the former militant leader Girkin stated that Vladislav Surkov is behind all the actions of the militants and arriving Russians in Donbas.

UNIAN