The Russian Imperial Movement (MIR, for its acronym), a Russian supremacist and radical group, could be behind the six letter bombs sent to Spain between November and December in 2022. One of them even caused an injury in the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid. This has been pointed out by a new investigation published by the American newspaper ‘The New York Times’. However, laSexta has learned that the Provincial Information Brigade of the National Police has no indication of this line of investigation; that is, that the MIR is behind the attacks and the letters with explosives.
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What is the Russian Imperial Movement? This group was created in 2002 in Saint Petersburg and advocates for the restoration of the tsarist regime and white supremacy.
- In 2020, the United States classified the MIR as a terrorist organization. It is the first time the White House has labeled a white supremacist group with this label.
- According to US investigations, this group is based in St. Petersburg, where they have their camps where they prepare urban and rural attacks, and conduct training in the use of tactical weapons and hand-to-hand combat.
- In Spain, there are links between this organization and others of far-right origin. According to the American newspaper, they are trying to unite ties with other supremacist forces in Europe and the United States. In fact, the US authorities warned the Spanish Ministry of the Interior that one of its leaders, Stanislav Shevchuk, was residing in Barcelona while his assets were seized in the US.
- Several US officials believe that the imperialist group was taking orders from Russian intelligence. And it would have been them, the Kremlin’s secret services, who ordered the letters to be sent, according to the ‘New York Times’. The main objective of the attacks was to show that Russia can carry out terrorist actions on NATO territory, an organization that is helping Ukraine in the war.
What actions has this group taken outside of Russia? The Russian Imperial Movement has been sending fighters to Ukraine for years and, in addition, they have attacked some parts of Europe.
- Apart from the letters with explosives, this terrorist group has also collaborated with European ultranationalist groups in two attacks against refugees committed in Sweden in 2016 and 2017. One of its leaders, Anatoly Udodov, was arrested at Stockholm airport. He was blamed for sending Swedish neo-Nazis to Russia for military training and, upon returning, attacking the refugees.
Who is your leader? Since 2015, its leader has been the far-right Stanislav Vorobyev.
- Born in Leningrad, this prosecutor is a believer in the most radical branch of Orthodox Christianity. After passing through various Russian regional far-right organizations, such as the Leningrad regional branch of the ‘Derzhava’ social-patriotic movement, he joined the Russian Imperial Movement. In 2015 he was appointed as its leader.
- In 2020, the United States authorities included him on the list of foreigners sanctioned for ties to terrorism. And they have already removed his assets.
Source: Lasexta
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
