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8 Monday, September 3, 2018 International Tens of thousands mourn the murdered Ukraine rebel ‘hero’ Praised as a ‘brother’ and a ‘hero’ by an aide of Vladimir Putin DONETSK: Tens of thousands of mourners thronged the ‘Personal loss’ streets in Ukraine’s rebel stronghold of Donetsk yester- Huge billboards erected in the city centre were plas- day to pay their final respects to an assassinated sepa- tered with pictures of Zakharchenko and his quotes. “All of ratist leader, who was praised as a “brother” and a “hero” us have one Motherland — Russia”, read one. “They have by an aide of Vladimir Putin. Crowds of admirers — taken away a part of our soul,” said one mourner, 41-year- many clutching flowers and in tears — clapped and old Oksana, who declined to give her last name. “He was shouted “spasibo” (thank you) as the flag-draped casket like a member of the family. It’s a personal loss for me.” of Alexander Zakharchenko, the 42-year-old chief of the Many blamed Ukraine for the bombing. self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, was driven “We will never forget this tragedy, we will never for- through the streets en route give,” said Sergei Kapustin, to a cemetery. 35. Zakharchenko will be Zakharchenko was killed in buried next to two prominent a bombing at a Donetsk cafe rebel commanders known by on Friday, becoming the four- A huge honor their noms de guerre, Givi year conflict’s most prominent and Motorola. Putin on Friday victim from the Moscow- to be your swiftly sent condolences to backed side. His bodyguard Zakharchenko’s family and also died and 12 more people friend residents of east Ukraine. were injured. At least 100,000 mourners came to pay their Celebration in Kiev respects to Zakharchenko, In the capital Kiev, several whose body had lain “in state” dozen political activists cele- at a theatre for several hours, brated the demise of the pro- the authorities said. Western authorities’ arch-enemy by setting up a table in front Several members of Russia’s ultra-nationalist bikers’ of the Russian embassy. They drank sparkling wine and ate club Night Wolves including their leader Alexander chicken in front of portraits of Putin, Zakharchenko and iconic Zaldostanov were in attendance. The head of Georgia’s pro-Kremlin crooner Iosif Kobzon who also died this week. breakaway statelet, South Ossetia, Anatoly Bibilov, and The portraits of the camouflage-clad Zakharchenko and Russian lawmaker Natalia Poklonskaya also turned out. Kobzon — who once sang together — were crossed out In a statement carried by the Donetsk republic’s news with red paint. The activists threw chicken bones at the DONETSK: Pall bearers carry the coffin during the funeral ceremony for assassinated leader of the self-proclaimed agency, Russian President Putin’s aide Vladislav Surkov photographs. Moscow and rebel authorities have said Kiev Donetsk People’s Republic Alexander Zakharchenko. — AFP called the separatist a “brother”. “You are a cool guy, a was behind the assassination, while Ukraine links the true hero and it’s a huge honor to be your friend,” said bombing to internal feuding and Russia’s desire to control November 2014, he was elected the first president of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in April 2014 following Surkov, calling Zakharchenko Sasha, a diminutive form the territory. Russia has said the murder was a provocation Donetsk republic and earlier that year took part in the Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Kiev and the of his first name. Armed men in fatigues cordoned off and would derail the long-stalled, Western-brokered storming of the regional administration building that West accuse Russia of funneling troops and arms across the city centre and public transport was temporarily peace process. Zakharchenko had led Russian-backed launched the conflict. More than 10,000 people have been the border. Moscow has denied the claims despite evi- suspended. insurgents in the rebel region for the last four years. In killed since the insurgency broke out in the eastern dence to the contrary. — AFP from the right-wing UK Independence Tory members Party (UKIP) are joining the Tories to remake its leadership. Their concerns stem sparks fears from businessman Arron Banks, the single Taken to the USSR, largest bankroller in the 2016 EU referen- dum campaign, calling for the roughly of right-wing 90,000 members of his Leave. EU group French ‘children’ and its 1.4 million social media followers to takeover join the Conservatives. forgotten in Belarus He admits wanting to ensure the party’s LONDON: As internal divisions over next leader — and therefore prime minister GRODNO: When she set out on a boat for the USSR Brexit plague Britain’s ruling Conservative — is a hardliner if Theresa May is ousted with her family some 70 years ago, Yanina Stashko had Party, a recent surge in membership has amid fierce opposition to her plans for a no idea she would never see her native France again. left some fearing the new recruits have post-Brexit “common rulebook” with the Like millions of others, mainly from continental Europe ulterior motives. The Tories have seen EU. Under Conservative rules new mem- but also Britain and the United States, Stashko’s family thousands of new members apply to join its bers are able to vote in leadership contests was tempted “home” to the Soviet Union by a post-war ranks this summer, according to lawmakers within three months of joining. propaganda drive. But when they got there they lost and reports. But this newfound popularity “The best way to secure Brexit and our LONDON: In this file photo taken on June 12, 2018 Brexit campaign donor and their previous nationality, found themselves impover- has not been welcomed by all within the country’s future is via the Conservative businessman Arron Banks arrives at Portcullis House to give evidence to ished at best and victims of political repression at worst. centre-right bastion of British politics. Party,” Banks wrote in last week’s Sunday Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee. — AFP “Of course I could have done much more in France “There clearly is a movement of people Times, noting “it is in government and, for than I did here. But obviously it is too late to go back,” joining the Conservative Party but for now, calls the shots. “A grassroots rebellion they welcome the converts, noting Banks tive influence”. He briefly left the party “to the 88-year-old told AFP at the farm where she lives in exactly what purpose it’s impossible to in the Tory party is possible. In the right was a member as recently as 2013. put pressure on them” to hold the 2016 the west of Belarus. In the 1920s, Stashko’s father had say,” Dominic Grieve, a pro-European MP, conditions a new leader can be swept to Conservative Party headquarters declined referendum, and rejoined in August to moved from what is now western Belarus to France along told AFP. In his constituency in southeast power, and sanity can prevail. Our aim is to to comment on Banks or provide new influence Brexit “if there is a leadership with his wife. There he worked in the mines in the north England it has grown by around 100 peo- unite the right,” he added. member numbers. A party source said: challenge”. Evans said the growing cam- of the country which at the time were crippled by strikes. ple to 1,200 members in recent months — “We have been driving up membership paign for a second referendum spurred his “In France we lived well. We had a house that my father alongside his suspicions. “I’m sure there’s a ‘Extremist infiltration’ steadily through a recruitment drive.” decision as much as Banks. “My vision of was given from the mine,” said Stashko, who was born deselection agenda by some members of Conservatives last month rejected Insiders added the spike was anticipated Brexit is being lost to a Remainer PM shortly after her parents’ arrival in the country. my association towards me,” he added. Banks’ own bid to join, reportedly judging due to a new centralized membership sys- (prime minister), Remainer cabinet and “The Conservative Party’s always been a he would likely bring them into disrepute. tem and nationwide campaign managers majority-Remainer Parliament,” he said. Millions like us broad church and tolerant of difference. “He is not a Conservative and he supports working to recruit. Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen But after World War II, her father lost his job. The But I’m afraid at the moment we’re going a rival political party,” pro-Remain MP Lawmakers like Grieve and Soubry can- Mary University of London, said a spike in region from where in Belarus his family originated had through a political crisis which is reducing Anna Soubry said in welcoming the move. not see the national picture, they said. ardent Brexiteers joining the Conservatives become a part of the USSR — at home, they would read tolerance.” She urged Tory Chairman Brandon Lewis George Evans, 64, of Wirral in northwest was “almost inevitable”. “If it is being coor- Soviet newspapers, which were full of propaganda, and MPs who back remaining in the “to show the courage and determination to England, is among the new members from dinated in some way then that will help the talk about what life would be like on the other side of European Union — so-called Remainers stop the extremist infiltration”. UKIP but insisted he is a lifelong Tory vot- process along,” he added, noting its sign-up the Iron Curtain.

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