Difference between revisions of "Vita Zaverukha"

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|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vita_Zaverukha
 
|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vita_Zaverukha
 
|description=War actor, criminal, neo-Nazi
 
|description=War actor, criminal, neo-Nazi
|interests=
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|interests=ATO, Aidar Battalion
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|ON_constitutes=Influencer
 
|image=Vita_zaverukha.jpg
 
|image=Vita_zaverukha.jpg
 
|nationality=Ukrainian
 
|nationality=Ukrainian
 
|birth_date=1996
 
|birth_date=1996
 
|birth_place=
 
|birth_place=
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|wikipedia_protection=1
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|youtube=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF1dYyMHRTXMTrBy-uUeYZQ
 
}}
 
}}
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'''Victoria Ihorivna Zaverukha''' (Wiktorija Sawerucha) also sometimes referred to as the Ukrainian Jeanne d'Arc,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeAayTYJPi8&themeRefresh=1</ref> is a Ukrainian political activist and [[influencer]],<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIuyvCQeolw&themeRefresh=1</ref> criminal,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230531031548/https://kp.ua/incidents/499896-po-podozrenyui-v-rasstrele-mylytsyonerov-zaderzhana-19-letniaia-vyta-zaverukha</ref> and neo-Nazi. The [[Dailymail]] documented her leanings from her own [[social media]] in a [[2015]] article.<ref>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3073478/Teen-girl-feted-Ukraine-s-Joan-Arc-fighting-against-Russian-rebels-revealed-nasty-neo-Nazi-views-arrested-killing-cops.html</ref> She has taken part in propaganda footage together with "[[James Vasquez]]" and "[[the Belarusian moustache man]]".<ref>https://odysee.com/@CanSurplus:b/how-to-spot-war-propaganda-by-gonzalo:8</ref><ref>A YT channel ([https://www.youtube.com/@warchronicle.strengthintru973/videos War chronicle. Strength in truth.]) notes with another video of her in the same clothing: "location - Church of the Ascension of the Lord in the village of Lukyanovka, Kiev regi" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVJ_38w6b0w [https://web.archive.org/web/20230918204546/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVJ_38w6b0w archived]</ref><ref>a motivational/propaganda video from Батальйон БРАТСТВО (Battalion BRATSYATSIA / facebook.com/BatalionBratstvo), which has parts of the video shoot with "James Vasquez" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrWJkFRrNGs - [https://web.archive.org/web/20230918171837/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrWJkFRrNGs archived]</ref> Zaverukha had her own [[YouTube]] channel that has been deleted or made unlisted some time in late [[2022]].
  
""Victoria Ihorivna Zaverukha"" also known as Wiktorija Sawerucha, sometimes also referred to as the Ukrainian Jeanne d'Arc<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeAayTYJPi8&themeRefresh=1</ref>,  is a Ukrainian political activist and influencer<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIuyvCQeolw&themeRefresh=1</ref>, criminal<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230531031548/https://kp.ua/incidents/499896-po-podozrenyui-v-rasstrele-mylytsyonerov-zaderzhana-19-letniaia-vyta-zaverukha</ref>, neo-Nazi<ref>https://wikispooks.com/w/images/1/1c/Wiktorija_Sawerucha.jpg</ref>.
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==Biography==
She has taken part in propaganda footage together with "[[James Vasquez]]" and "[[the Belarusian moustache man]]".<ref>https://odysee.com/@CanSurplus:b/how-to-spot-war-propaganda-by-gonzalo:8</ref>
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Zaverukha joined [[Euromaidan]] and took part in the storming of the Vinnytsia regional state administration in January 2014.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230601021120/https://vn.20minut.ua/revolyuciya/vita-zaveruha-meni-bayduzhe-koli-mene-nazivayut-banderivkoyu-10410741.html</ref> She did not belong to any organisation but was active in the area of the [[Far-right politics in Ukraine|far-right]] and the [[Right Sector]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230601021639/https://books.google.at/books?id=tzmDDwAAQBAJ&dq=Vita+Zaverukha&pg=PP1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Vita%20Zaverukha&f=false</ref> After the outbreak of the War in Donbas in April 2014, she joined the volunteer batallion [[Aidar]], which was active in the Luhansk region.<ref>https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/actualites/article/le-magazine-elle-s-excuse-pour-la-polemique-apres-son-interview-d-une-jeune-neo-nazie_55910.html</ref>
Zaverukha had her own YouTube channel that has been deleted or made unlisted some time in late 2022.
 
  
==Biography==
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Zaverukha first became known in Russia for calling for the suppression of the Russians in Ukraine and for posting neo-Nazi content on social media.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605200349/https://books.google.at/books?id=tzmDDwAAQBAJ&dq=Vita+Zaverukha&pg=PP1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Vita%20Zaverukha&f=false</ref> In France, and elsewhere she became known following the publication in the French magazine ''Elle'', on 14 November 2014, of a report on women in the armed conflict in Donbas, in which Zaverukha was interviewed and photographed.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605200722/https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/actualites/article/le-magazine-elle-s-excuse-pour-la-polemique-apres-son-interview-d-une-jeune-neo-nazie_55910.html</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201009/https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/le-magazine-elle-sexcuse-apres-la-publication-dune-interview-dune-neo-nazie-ukrainienne-101601-02-01-2015/</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201159/https://www.rfi.fr/fr/europe/20150101-magazine-elle-propagande-berne-nazi-vita-zaveroukha</ref> <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201432/https://observers.france24.com/fr/europe/20220517-l-%C3%A9pouse-du-combattant-azov-qui-a-t%C3%A9moign%C3%A9-%C3%A0-la-t%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision-serait-elle-n%C3%A9o-nazie-attention-intox</ref> At the end of December 2014, the Ukrainian-American pianist [[Valentina Lisitsa]] discovered that Zaverukha had posted images of herself making the Nazi salute and wearing a swastika, and joined a social media campaign to protest the ''Elle'' article.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201707/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/world/americas/toronto-orchestra-drops-pianist-over-tweets-about-ukraine.html</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605200722/https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/actualites/article/le-magazine-elle-s-excuse-pour-la-polemique-apres-son-interview-d-une-jeune-neo-nazie_55910.html</ref>
Zaverukha joined [[Euromaidan]] and took part in the storming of the Vinnytsia regional state administration in January 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2014 |title=Віта Заверуха: "Мені байдуже, коли мене називають "бандерівкою" - 20 хвилин |trans-title=Vita Zaverukha: "I don't care when they call me "Banderivka" |url=https://vn.20minut.ua/revolyuciya/vita-zaveruha-meni-bayduzhe-koli-mene-nazivayut-banderivkoyu-10410741.html |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=vn.20minut.ua |language=uk}}</ref> She did not belong to any organisation but was active in the area of the [[Far-right politics in Ukraine|far-right]] and the [[Right Sector]].<ref name="territorial defense" /> After the outbreak of [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]] in April 2014, she joined the volunteer batallion [[Aidar Battalion|Aidar]], which was active in the Luhansk region.<ref name="huffingtonpost" />
 
  
Zaverukha first became known in Russia for calling for the suppression of the [[Russians in Ukraine|Russian minority in Ukraine]] and for posting neo-Nazi content on social media.<ref name="insurgentwomen2">{{Cite book |last1=Trisko Darden |first1=Jessica |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tzmDDwAAQBAJ&dq=Vita+Zaverukha&pg=PP1 |title=Insurgent Women: Female Combatants in Civil Wars |last2=Alexis |first2=Henshaw |last3=Ora |first3=Szekely |date=March 2019 |isbn=978-1626166660}}</ref> In France and elsewhere she became known following the publication in the French magazine ''Elle'', on 14 November 2014, of a report on women in the [[War in Donbas|armed conflict in Donbas]], in which Zaverukha was interviewed and photographed.<ref name="huffingtonpost" /><ref name="lesinrocks">{{Cite web |title=Le magazine "Elle" s'excuse après la publication d'une interview d'une néo-nazie ukrainienne |url=https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/le-magazine-elle-sexcuse-apres-la-publication-dune-interview-dune-neo-nazie-ukrainienne-101601-02-01-2015/ |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=Les Inrocks |lang=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name="rfi">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/europe/20150101-magazine-elle-propagande-berne-nazi-vita-zaveroukha |title=Comment le magazine ELLE a été berné par une néo-nazi ukrainienne |website=[[Radio France Internationale]]|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref name="france24"/> At the end of December 2014, the Ukrainian-American pianist [[Valentina Lisitsa]] discovered that Zaverukha had posted images of herself making the Nazi salute and wearing a swastika, and joined a social media campaign to protest the ''Elle'' article.<ref>{{Cite news |last=MACKEY |first=ROBERT |date=April 8, 2015 |title=Toronto Orchestra Drops Pianist Over Tweets About Ukraine |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/world/americas/toronto-orchestra-drops-pianist-over-tweets-about-ukraine.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418133034/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/world/americas/toronto-orchestra-drops-pianist-over-tweets-about-ukraine.html |archive-date=18 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="huffingtonpost" /> Faced with numerous criticisms, ''Elle'' editorial board issued a statement on 30 December saying that it was "shocked" by the news of Zaverukha's neo-Nazi background and condemned any [[Xenophobia|xenophobic]], antisemitic, racist and Nazi ideology.<ref name="huffingtonpost" /><ref name="insurgentwomen" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Communiqué ELLE |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/18iCcpdYLqI4oD4VTt-7zfJhij3mbVHClUVlKp_Ix-I4/edit?usp=embed_facebook |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=Google Docs |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/economie/medias/oups-elle-publie-la-photo-d-une-jeune-neo-nazie-en-pleine-page_1636378.html |title=Oups, ELLE publie la photo d'une jeune néo-nazie en pleine page |website=[[L'Express]]|language=fr}}</ref>
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There are reports about her having been present during the [[2014 Ukraine coup/Odessa massacre|2014 Odessa massacre]].<ref>https://misdivision.livejournal.com/47077.html saved at [https://web.archive.org/web/20220326122342/https://misdivision.livejournal.com/47077.html?nojs=1 Archive.org] saved at [https://archive.li/kwyPO Archive.is]</ref>
  
In April 2015 Zaverukha was arrested on charges of participating in an armed robbery at a gas station that had taken place on 4 May 2015 in Kyiv.<ref name="19-year-old Vita">{{Cite web |last=TISHCHENKO |first=MARINA |date=6 May 2015 |title=По подозрению в расстреле милиционеров задержана 19-летняя Вита Заверуха |trans-title=19-year-old Vita Zaveruha was detained on suspicion of shooting policemen |url=https://kp.ua/incidents/499896-po-podozrenyui-v-rasstrele-mylytsyonerov-zaderzhana-19-letniaia-vyta-zaverukha |website=kp.ua}}</ref><ref name="france24">{{Cite web |url=https://observers.france24.com/fr/europe/20220517-l-%C3%A9pouse-du-combattant-azov-qui-a-t%C3%A9moign%C3%A9-%C3%A0-la-t%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision-serait-elle-n%C3%A9o-nazie-attention-intox |title=L'épouse d'un combattant Azov ayant témoigné à la télévision est-elle néonazie ? Attention, intox |website=France 24 |quote=Cette dernière a arrêtée en mai 2015 à Kiev après une tentative de vol dans une station d’essence, et après avoir tiré sur des policiers selon le média ukrainien KP.}}</ref> Reportredly, the police had chased the car carrying a group of robbers from a petrol station. A shootout ensued, two policemen were killed and three wounded, one robber died, and two escaped but were arrested some time later. One of the alleged robbers confessed on camera that Zaverukha had participated in the robbery. According to investigators, the group was preparing a terrorist attack in Kyiv.<ref name="Zaverukha's husband">{{Cite web |date=February 13, 2017 |title=Муж Заверухи заявил, что их избили бывшие побратимы из "С14" |trans-title=Zaverukha's husband said they were beaten by former sworn brothers |url=https://kp.ua/incidents/566827-muzh-zaverukhy-zaiavyl-chto-ykh-yzbyly-byvshye-pobratymy |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=КП в Украине {{!}} КП в Україні {{!}} KP in Ukraine |language=ru}}</ref> Following the arrest, Zaverukha and the other suspects in custody claimed that they were subjected to [[Torture in Ukraine|torture]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 May 2015 |title=Міліціонери катують Завіруху і "компанію"? - 20 хвилин |trans-title=Police officers torturing Zaviruha and "company"? |url=https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/militsioneri-katuyut-zaviruhu-i-kompaniyu-10446238.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=vn.20minut.ua |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=8 May 2015 |title=Спільниця підозрюваних у розстрілі міліціонерів заявила про побої (Документ) (фото) |trans-title=The accomplice of the suspects in the shooting of the policemen stated about the beatings (Document) |url=https://lb.ua/society/2015/05/08/304422_soobshchnitsa_podozrevaemih_rasstrele.html |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=LB.ua}}</ref>  
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===Murder charges===
Since the victims belonged to a police special force ([[Berkut (special police force)|Berkut]]) that had been responsible for violence against [[Automaidan]] in January 2014, and the alleged perpetrators were far-right activists and former volunteers of the [[Aidar Battalion|Aidar]], "Shakhtarsk"<ref name="unian">{{Cite web |url=https://www.unian.net/society/1076351-ubiystvo-militsionerov-v-kieve-podozrevaemaya-jaluetsya-na-davlenie-so-storonyi-silovikov.html |title=Убийство милиционеров в Киеве: подозреваемая жалуется на давление со стороны силовиков |website=unian.net}}</ref> [[Special Tasks Patrol Police#Former special police units|Tornado]] and [[Azov Regiment|Azov]] battalions,<ref name="19-year-old Vita" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=6 May 2015 |title=До вбивства міліціонерів у Києві причетні бійці добровольчих батальйонів |trans-title=Fighters of volunteer battalions were involved in the killing of policemen in Kyiv |url=https://24tv.ua/kyivnews/do_vbivstva_militsioneriv_u_kiyevi_prichetni_biytsi_dobrovolchih_batalyoniv_n572128 |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=24 Канал |language=uk}}</ref> their supporters regarded them not as criminals, but as avengers of the people, and believed that the robbery at the gas station was a police set-up.<ref name="full history" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2015 |title=В київських "беркутів" стріляли вінничани. Терористи вони чи месники? - 20 хвилин |trans-title=Vinnytsia fired at the Kyiv Golden Eagles. Are they terrorists or avengers? |url=https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/v-kiyivskih-berkutiv-strilyali-vinnichani-teroristi-voni-chi-mesniki-10445817.html |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=vn.20minut.ua |language=uk}}</ref> In September 2015, the website of the far-right group [[Tryzub (organization)|All-Ukrainian Organization ″Trident″ named after ''Stepan Bandera'']] reported that Zaverukha had been awarded the medal "For sacrifice and love for Ukraine" by the Patriarch of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate]] [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]]. The information was confirmed by Zaverukha's lawyer but not by the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate|Kyiv Patriarchate]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2015 |title=Віту Заверуху нагородили церковним орденом? |trans-title=Was Vita Zaveruha awarded a church order? |url=https://vn.20minut.ua/revolyuciya/vitu-zaveruhu-nagorodili-tserkovnim-ordenom-10462719.html |website=vn.20minut.ua}}</ref>
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In April [[2015]] Zaverukha was arrested on charges of participating in an armed robbery at a gas station that had taken place on 4 May 2015 in Kyiv.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605202049/https://kp.ua/incidents/499896-po-podozrenyui-v-rasstrele-mylytsyonerov-zaderzhana-19-letniaia-vyta-zaverukha</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201432/https://observers.france24.com/fr/europe/20220517-l-%C3%A9pouse-du-combattant-azov-qui-a-t%C3%A9moign%C3%A9-%C3%A0-la-t%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision-serait-elle-n%C3%A9o-nazie-attention-intox</ref> Reportedly, the police had chased the car carrying a group of robbers from a petrol station. A shootout ensued, two policemen were killed and three wounded, one robber died, and two escaped but were arrested some time later. One of the alleged robbers confessed on camera that Zaverukha had participated in the robbery. According to investigators, the group was preparing a terrorist attack in Kyiv.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605202507/https://kp.ua/incidents/566827-muzh-zaverukhy-zaiavyl-chto-ykh-yzbyly-byvshye-pobratymy</ref> Following the arrest, Zaverukha and the other suspects in custody claimed that they were subjected to torture.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230605202837/https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/militsioneri-katuyut-zaviruhu-i-kompaniyu-10446238.html</ref><ref>https://lb.ua/society/2015/05/08/304422_soobshchnitsa_podozrevaemih_rasstrele.html</ref>
Court hearings in her case were repeatedly postponed, picketed and disrupted,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 Oct 2016 |title=Апеляційний суд почав екстрене засідання щодо підозрюваних у вбивстві міліціонерів |trans-title=The case of the murder of policemen at a gas station: clashes near the court, 4 detainees |url=https://hromadske.ua/posts/apeliatsiinyi-sud-pochav-ekstrene-zasidannia-shchodo-pidozriuvanykh-u-vbyvstvi-militsioneriv |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=[[Hromadske]] |language=uk}}</ref><ref name="Zaverukha's husband" /> and in November 2016 a people's deputy from [[People's Front (Ukraine)|Popular Front]], {{Interlanguage link|Yuriy Tymoshenko|uk|Тимошенко_Юрій_Володимирович}}, handcuffed himself to Zaverukha during a courtroom hearing and warned that any attempt to remove the wrist bracelets would have been regarded as an attack on the deputy's immunity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Nov 2016 |title=Нардеп из НФ приковал себя наручниками к Заверухе |trans-title=NF deputy handcuffs himself to Zawerucha |url=https://incident.obozrevatel.com/crime/68397-nardep-iz-narodnogo-fronta-prikoval-sebya-naruchnikami-k-zaveruhe-v-sude.htm |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=OBOZREVATEL INCIDENT |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Nov 2016 |title=Апеляційний суд залишив Заверуху, Романюка та Кошелюка під арештом |trans-title=The appellate court kept Zaverukha, Romanyuk and Koshelyuk under arrest |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news/28135744.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |language=uk}}</ref>
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Since the victims belonged to a police special force [[Berkut]] that had been responsible for violence against [[Automaidan]] in January 2014, and the alleged perpetrators were far-right activists and former volunteers of [[Aidar]], <ref>https://www.unian.net/society/1076351-ubiystvo-militsionerov-v-kieve-podozrevaemaya-jaluetsya-na-davlenie-so-storonyi-silovikov.html</ref> their supporters regarded them not as criminals, but as avengers of the people, and believed that the robbery at the gas station was a police set-up.<ref>https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/povna-istoriya-spravi-zaveruhi-i-ko-yim-mozhut-prishiti-vbivstvo-buzin-10446646.html</ref><ref>https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/v-kiyivskih-berkutiv-strilyali-vinnichani-teroristi-voni-chi-mesniki-10445817.html</ref> In September 2015, the website of the far-right group [[Tryzub]] reported that Zaverukha had been awarded the medal "For sacrifice and love for Ukraine" by the Patriarch of the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate]] [[Filaret (Denysenko)|Filaret]]. The information was confirmed by Zaverukha's lawyer but not by the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate|Kyiv Patriarchate]].<ref>https://vn.20minut.ua/revolyuciya/vitu-zaveruhu-nagorodili-tserkovnim-ordenom-10462719.html</ref>
In January 2017 Zaverukha was released on bail (1.6 million [[Ukrainian hryvnia|hryvnias]]) paid by [[Oleksiy Tamrazov]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2017-01-24 |title=Заверуху освободили под залог в 1,6 млн гривен |trans-title=Zaverukha released on bail of 1.6 million hryvnia |url=https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/zaveruhu-osvobodili-pod-zalog-v-1-6-mln-griven-791200.html |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=ТСН.ua |language=ru}}</ref><ref name="full history" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Jan 2017 |title=За Віту Заверуху внесли заставу в 1,6 мільйона гривень, її звільнили з СІЗО – активісти |trans-title=A bail of 1.6 million hryvnias was paid for Vita Zaverukha, she was released from pre-trial detention center - activists |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news/28255172.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 Jan 2017 |title=Підозрювану у вбивстві правоохоронців Заверуху випустили с СІЗО під заставу |trans-title=Zaverukha, a suspect in the murder of law enforcement officers, was released from the pretrial detention center on bail |url=https://hromadske.ua/posts/pidozriuvanu-u-vbyvstvi-pravookhorontsiv-zaverukhu-vypustyly-s-sizo-pid-zastavu |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=[[Hromadske]] |language=uk}}</ref> and later released from the investigation.<ref name="territorial defense" />
 
In February she and her partner Oles Chernyak said they were beaten by members of [[S14 (Ukrainian group)|political group C14]], which had supported the campaign for their release.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-12 |title=Підозрювана у вбивстві правоохоронців Заверуха заявила про побиття з боку «С14» |trans-title=Zaverukha, a suspect in the murder of law enforcement officers, stated that she was beaten by "C14" |url=https://hromadske.ua/posts/pidozriuvana-u-vbyvstvi-pravookhorontsiv-zaverukha-zaiavyla-pro-pobyttia-z-boku-s14?tag=vita-zaverukha |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=[[Hromadske]] |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-12 |title=Віта Заверуха та її хлопець звинуватили націоналістів у кривавому побитті |trans-title=VITA ZAVERUKHA AND HER BOYFRIEND ACCUSED THE NATIONALISTS OF THE BLOODY BEATING |url=https://kyiv.tsn.ua/kyiv/vita-zaveruha-ta-yiyi-hlopec-zvinuvatili-nacionalistiv-u-krivavomu-pobitti-879493.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=ТСН.ua |language=uk}}</ref><ref name="Zaverukha's husband" />
 
  
In July 2017 Zaverukha and her partner were involved in an attack on transgender activists in Kyiv.<ref name="insurgentwomen" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-13 |title=Нападение на трансгендеров в Киеве: жертвы узнали двух лиц с криминальным ''шлейфом'' |trans-title=Attack on transgender people in Kyiv: victims recognized two persons with a criminal "train" |url=https://incident.obozrevatel.com/kiyany/crime/51709-napadenie-na-transgenderov-v-kieve-zhertvyi-uznali-dvuh-lits-s-kriminalnyim-shlejfom.htm |access-date=2022-12-11 |website=OBOZREVATEL INCIDENT |language=ru}}</ref>
+
Court hearings in her case were repeatedly postponed, picketed and disrupted,<ref>https://hromadske.ua/posts/apeliatsiinyi-sud-pochav-ekstrene-zasidannia-shchodo-pidozriuvanykh-u-vbyvstvi-militsioneriv</ref><ref>https://kp.ua/incidents/566827-muzh-zaverukhy-zaiavyl-chto-ykh-yzbyly-byvshye-pobratymy</ref> and in November 2016 a people's deputy from [[People's Front]], handcuffed himself to Zaverukha during a courtroom hearing and warned that any attempt to remove the wrist bracelets would have been regarded as an attack on the deputy's immunity.<ref>https://incident.obozrevatel.com/crime/68397-nardep-iz-narodnogo-fronta-prikoval-sebya-naruchnikami-k-zaveruhe-v-sude.htm</ref><ref>https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news/28135744.html</ref>
 +
In January 2017 Zaverukha was released on bail (1.6 million Ukrainian hryvnia paid by [[Oleksiy Tamrazov]]<ref>https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/povna-istoriya-spravi-zaveruhi-i-ko-yim-mozhut-prishiti-vbivstvo-buzin-10446646.html</ref><ref>https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/zaveruhu-osvobodili-pod-zalog-v-1-6-mln-griven-791200.html</ref><ref>https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news/28255172.html</ref><ref>https://hromadske.ua/posts/pidozriuvanu-u-vbyvstvi-pravookhorontsiv-zaverukhu-vypustyly-s-sizo-pid-zastavu</ref> bail of 1.6 million hryvnias was paid for Zaverukha.
 +
In February she and her partner Oles Chernyak said they were beaten by members of [[S14]]| & [[C14]], which had supported the campaign for their release.<ref>https://hromadske.ua/posts/pidozriuvana-u-vbyvstvi-pravookhorontsiv-zaverukha-zaiavyla-pro-pobyttia-z-boku-s14?tag=vita-zaverukha</ref><ref>https://kyiv.tsn.ua/kyiv/vita-zaveruha-ta-yiyi-hlopec-zvinuvatili-nacionalistiv-u-krivavomu-pobitti-879493.html</ref><ref>https://kp.ua/incidents/566827-muzh-zaverukhy-zaiavyl-chto-ykh-yzbyly-byvshye-pobratymy</ref> a suspect in the murder of law enforcement officers, stated that she was beaten by "C14".<ref>https://kp.ua/incidents/566827-muzh-zaverukhy-zaiavyl-chto-ykh-yzbyly-byvshye-pobratymy</ref>
 +
{{YouTubeVideo
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|code=-1y288YW2i8
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|caption=Zaverukha paying a visit to locals in 2014. The text below the video reads (autom. translation): "The masked "Aidarovtsy" led by activist Vita Zaverukha stormed the office of a Russian firm in Vinnitsa, but were firmly repulsed by the employees."
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}}
  
In 2020, a human rights report by the US State Department stated that Vita Zaverukha and other activists of the Unknown Patriot group were among the suspects in an attack on participants of the 8 March women's rights rally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HUMAN RIGHTS REPORTS |url=https://www.state.gov/report/custom/b18c9ef210/ |website=state.gov}}</ref>
+
===Later activities===
 +
In July [[2017]] Zaverukha and her partner were involved in an attack on transgender activists in Kyiv.<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=tzmDDwAAQBAJ&dq=Vita+Zaverukha&pg=PP1</ref><ref>https://incident.obozrevatel.com/kiyany/crime/51709-napadenie-na-transgenderov-v-kieve-zhertvyi-uznali-dvuh-lits-s-kriminalnyim-shlejfom.htm</ref>
  
It was reported that on July 8 2021, she was involved in counter-demonstrations against environmentalists campaigning to preserve Lake Vyrlytsia.<ref name="Zmina21">{{cite book |last1=Moskvychova |first1=A. |last2=Pechonchyk |first2=T. |last3=Yankina |first3=L. |title=The situation of human rights defenders and civil activists in Ukraine in 2021: Monitoring and analytical report |date=2021 |publisher=ZMINA Human Rights Centre |location=Kyiv}}</ref>
+
In [[2020]], a human rights report by the US State Department stated that Vita Zaverukha and other activists of the Unknown Patriot group were among the suspects in an attack on participants of the 8 March women's rights rally.<ref>https://www.state.gov/report/custom/b18c9ef210/</ref>
  
In March 2022 she reportedly joined the [[Territorial Defense Forces (Ukraine)|territorial defense]] near [[Kyiv]].<ref name="territorial defense" />
+
{{SMWDocs}}
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==References==
 +
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 20:46, 18 September 2023

"Influencer"
Person.png Vita Zaverukha   YouTubeRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Vita zaverukha.jpg
Born1996
NationalityUkrainian
Interests • ATO
• Aidar Battalion
War actor, criminal, neo-Nazi

Victoria Ihorivna Zaverukha (Wiktorija Sawerucha) also sometimes referred to as the Ukrainian Jeanne d'Arc,[1] is a Ukrainian political activist and influencer,[2] criminal,[3] and neo-Nazi. The Dailymail documented her leanings from her own social media in a 2015 article.[4] She has taken part in propaganda footage together with "James Vasquez" and "the Belarusian moustache man".[5][6][7] Zaverukha had her own YouTube channel that has been deleted or made unlisted some time in late 2022.

Biography

Zaverukha joined Euromaidan and took part in the storming of the Vinnytsia regional state administration in January 2014.[8] She did not belong to any organisation but was active in the area of the far-right and the Right Sector.[9] After the outbreak of the War in Donbas in April 2014, she joined the volunteer batallion Aidar, which was active in the Luhansk region.[10]

Zaverukha first became known in Russia for calling for the suppression of the Russians in Ukraine and for posting neo-Nazi content on social media.[11] In France, and elsewhere she became known following the publication in the French magazine Elle, on 14 November 2014, of a report on women in the armed conflict in Donbas, in which Zaverukha was interviewed and photographed.[12][13][14] [15] At the end of December 2014, the Ukrainian-American pianist Valentina Lisitsa discovered that Zaverukha had posted images of herself making the Nazi salute and wearing a swastika, and joined a social media campaign to protest the Elle article.[16][17]

There are reports about her having been present during the 2014 Odessa massacre.[18]

Murder charges

In April 2015 Zaverukha was arrested on charges of participating in an armed robbery at a gas station that had taken place on 4 May 2015 in Kyiv.[19][20] Reportedly, the police had chased the car carrying a group of robbers from a petrol station. A shootout ensued, two policemen were killed and three wounded, one robber died, and two escaped but were arrested some time later. One of the alleged robbers confessed on camera that Zaverukha had participated in the robbery. According to investigators, the group was preparing a terrorist attack in Kyiv.[21] Following the arrest, Zaverukha and the other suspects in custody claimed that they were subjected to torture.[22][23] Since the victims belonged to a police special force Berkut that had been responsible for violence against Automaidan in January 2014, and the alleged perpetrators were far-right activists and former volunteers of Aidar, [24] their supporters regarded them not as criminals, but as avengers of the people, and believed that the robbery at the gas station was a police set-up.[25][26] In September 2015, the website of the far-right group Tryzub reported that Zaverukha had been awarded the medal "For sacrifice and love for Ukraine" by the Patriarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate Filaret. The information was confirmed by Zaverukha's lawyer but not by the Kyiv Patriarchate.[27]

Court hearings in her case were repeatedly postponed, picketed and disrupted,[28][29] and in November 2016 a people's deputy from People's Front, handcuffed himself to Zaverukha during a courtroom hearing and warned that any attempt to remove the wrist bracelets would have been regarded as an attack on the deputy's immunity.[30][31] In January 2017 Zaverukha was released on bail (1.6 million Ukrainian hryvnia paid by Oleksiy Tamrazov[32][33][34][35] bail of 1.6 million hryvnias was paid for Zaverukha. In February she and her partner Oles Chernyak said they were beaten by members of S14| & C14, which had supported the campaign for their release.[36][37][38] a suspect in the murder of law enforcement officers, stated that she was beaten by "C14".[39]

Zaverukha paying a visit to locals in 2014. The text below the video reads (autom. translation): "The masked "Aidarovtsy" led by activist Vita Zaverukha stormed the office of a Russian firm in Vinnitsa, but were firmly repulsed by the employees."

Later activities

In July 2017 Zaverukha and her partner were involved in an attack on transgender activists in Kyiv.[40][41]

In 2020, a human rights report by the US State Department stated that Vita Zaverukha and other activists of the Unknown Patriot group were among the suspects in an attack on participants of the 8 March women's rights rally.[42]


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References

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeAayTYJPi8&themeRefresh=1
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIuyvCQeolw&themeRefresh=1
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20230531031548/https://kp.ua/incidents/499896-po-podozrenyui-v-rasstrele-mylytsyonerov-zaderzhana-19-letniaia-vyta-zaverukha
  4. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3073478/Teen-girl-feted-Ukraine-s-Joan-Arc-fighting-against-Russian-rebels-revealed-nasty-neo-Nazi-views-arrested-killing-cops.html
  5. https://odysee.com/@CanSurplus:b/how-to-spot-war-propaganda-by-gonzalo:8
  6. A YT channel (War chronicle. Strength in truth.) notes with another video of her in the same clothing: "location - Church of the Ascension of the Lord in the village of Lukyanovka, Kiev regi" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVJ_38w6b0w archived
  7. a motivational/propaganda video from Батальйон БРАТСТВО (Battalion BRATSYATSIA / facebook.com/BatalionBratstvo), which has parts of the video shoot with "James Vasquez" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrWJkFRrNGs - archived
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20230601021120/https://vn.20minut.ua/revolyuciya/vita-zaveruha-meni-bayduzhe-koli-mene-nazivayut-banderivkoyu-10410741.html
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20230601021639/https://books.google.at/books?id=tzmDDwAAQBAJ&dq=Vita+Zaverukha&pg=PP1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Vita%20Zaverukha&f=false
  10. https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/actualites/article/le-magazine-elle-s-excuse-pour-la-polemique-apres-son-interview-d-une-jeune-neo-nazie_55910.html
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605200349/https://books.google.at/books?id=tzmDDwAAQBAJ&dq=Vita+Zaverukha&pg=PP1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Vita%20Zaverukha&f=false
  12. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605200722/https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/actualites/article/le-magazine-elle-s-excuse-pour-la-polemique-apres-son-interview-d-une-jeune-neo-nazie_55910.html
  13. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201009/https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/le-magazine-elle-sexcuse-apres-la-publication-dune-interview-dune-neo-nazie-ukrainienne-101601-02-01-2015/
  14. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201159/https://www.rfi.fr/fr/europe/20150101-magazine-elle-propagande-berne-nazi-vita-zaveroukha
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201432/https://observers.france24.com/fr/europe/20220517-l-%C3%A9pouse-du-combattant-azov-qui-a-t%C3%A9moign%C3%A9-%C3%A0-la-t%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision-serait-elle-n%C3%A9o-nazie-attention-intox
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201707/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/world/americas/toronto-orchestra-drops-pianist-over-tweets-about-ukraine.html
  17. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605200722/https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/actualites/article/le-magazine-elle-s-excuse-pour-la-polemique-apres-son-interview-d-une-jeune-neo-nazie_55910.html
  18. https://misdivision.livejournal.com/47077.html saved at Archive.org saved at Archive.is
  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605202049/https://kp.ua/incidents/499896-po-podozrenyui-v-rasstrele-mylytsyonerov-zaderzhana-19-letniaia-vyta-zaverukha
  20. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605201432/https://observers.france24.com/fr/europe/20220517-l-%C3%A9pouse-du-combattant-azov-qui-a-t%C3%A9moign%C3%A9-%C3%A0-la-t%C3%A9l%C3%A9vision-serait-elle-n%C3%A9o-nazie-attention-intox
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605202507/https://kp.ua/incidents/566827-muzh-zaverukhy-zaiavyl-chto-ykh-yzbyly-byvshye-pobratymy
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20230605202837/https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/militsioneri-katuyut-zaviruhu-i-kompaniyu-10446238.html
  23. https://lb.ua/society/2015/05/08/304422_soobshchnitsa_podozrevaemih_rasstrele.html
  24. https://www.unian.net/society/1076351-ubiystvo-militsionerov-v-kieve-podozrevaemaya-jaluetsya-na-davlenie-so-storonyi-silovikov.html
  25. https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/povna-istoriya-spravi-zaveruhi-i-ko-yim-mozhut-prishiti-vbivstvo-buzin-10446646.html
  26. https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/v-kiyivskih-berkutiv-strilyali-vinnichani-teroristi-voni-chi-mesniki-10445817.html
  27. https://vn.20minut.ua/revolyuciya/vitu-zaveruhu-nagorodili-tserkovnim-ordenom-10462719.html
  28. https://hromadske.ua/posts/apeliatsiinyi-sud-pochav-ekstrene-zasidannia-shchodo-pidozriuvanykh-u-vbyvstvi-militsioneriv
  29. https://kp.ua/incidents/566827-muzh-zaverukhy-zaiavyl-chto-ykh-yzbyly-byvshye-pobratymy
  30. https://incident.obozrevatel.com/crime/68397-nardep-iz-narodnogo-fronta-prikoval-sebya-naruchnikami-k-zaveruhe-v-sude.htm
  31. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news/28135744.html
  32. https://vn.20minut.ua/Kryminal/povna-istoriya-spravi-zaveruhi-i-ko-yim-mozhut-prishiti-vbivstvo-buzin-10446646.html
  33. https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/zaveruhu-osvobodili-pod-zalog-v-1-6-mln-griven-791200.html
  34. https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news/28255172.html
  35. https://hromadske.ua/posts/pidozriuvanu-u-vbyvstvi-pravookhorontsiv-zaverukhu-vypustyly-s-sizo-pid-zastavu
  36. https://hromadske.ua/posts/pidozriuvana-u-vbyvstvi-pravookhorontsiv-zaverukha-zaiavyla-pro-pobyttia-z-boku-s14?tag=vita-zaverukha
  37. https://kyiv.tsn.ua/kyiv/vita-zaveruha-ta-yiyi-hlopec-zvinuvatili-nacionalistiv-u-krivavomu-pobitti-879493.html
  38. https://kp.ua/incidents/566827-muzh-zaverukhy-zaiavyl-chto-ykh-yzbyly-byvshye-pobratymy
  39. https://kp.ua/incidents/566827-muzh-zaverukhy-zaiavyl-chto-ykh-yzbyly-byvshye-pobratymy
  40. https://books.google.com/books?id=tzmDDwAAQBAJ&dq=Vita+Zaverukha&pg=PP1
  41. https://incident.obozrevatel.com/kiyany/crime/51709-napadenie-na-transgenderov-v-kieve-zhertvyi-uznali-dvuh-lits-s-kriminalnyim-shlejfom.htm
  42. https://www.state.gov/report/custom/b18c9ef210/