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{{Short description|Ukrainian activist (1962–2014)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Oleksandr Ivanovych Muzychko
| name = Oleksandr Muzychko
| native_name = {{nobold|Олександр Музичко}}
| image = Oleksandr Muzychko.jpg
| native_name_lang = uk
| image = Oleksandr Muzychko (political activist, born 1962).jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Oleksandr Muzychko during the [[First Chechen War]]
| caption = Oleksandr Muzychko during the [[First Chechen War]]
Line 8: Line 11:
| birth_place = [[Kizel]], [[Perm Oblast]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| birth_place = [[Kizel]], [[Perm Oblast]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|03|24|1962|07|19|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|03|24|1962|07|19|df=y}}
| death_place = Café "Try Karasi" near [[Rivne]], [[Rivne Oblast]], [[Ukraine]]
| death_place = [[Rivne]], [[Ukraine]]
| nationality = Ukrainian and Belarusian
| nationality = Ukrainian and Belarusian
| other_names = Sashko Bilyi
| other_names = Sashko Bilyi
| occupation = Political activist
| occupation = Political activist
| known_for = Coordinator of [[Right Sector]] in Western Ukraine
| known_for = Coordinator of [[Right Sector]] in Western Ukraine
| awards = {{Hero of the Nation}}
}}
}}


'''Oleksandr Ivanovych Muzychko''' ([[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]: Олександр Іванович Музичко, 19 September 1962 – 24 March 2014<ref name=presUkr>{{cite news|title=Вбито Сашка Білого (Музичко)|url=http://uapress.info/uk/news/show/19566|newspaper=Преса України|date=25 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=KP>{{cite news|title=Сашко Билый убит?|url=http://www.kp.ru/daily/26210/3095196/|newspaper=[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]]|date=25 March 2014}}</ref>), nicknamed '''Sashko Bilyi''' (Alex White), was a Ukrainian political activist, a member of [[UNA-UNSO]] and coordinator of [[Right Sector]] in Western Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zik.ua/ua/news/2014/02/12/koordynatorom_pravogo_sektora_u_zahidniy_ukraini_stav_oleksandr_muzychko_460093|title=Координатор "Правого сектору" у Західній Україні – Олександр Музичко|publisher=zik.ua|accessdate=2014-03-08}}</ref> Muzychko was also a convicted criminal.<ref name="140307_biliy_muzychko_vc">{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/politics/2014/03/140307_biliy_muzychko_vc Sasha White: Action or Hero of the Revolution?], [[BBC Ukrainian]] (March 7, 2014)</ref>
'''Oleksandr Ivanovych Muzychko''' ({{langx|uk|Олександр Іванович Музичко}}; 19 September 1962 – 24 March 2014<ref name=presUkr>{{cite news|title=Вбито Сашка Білого (Музичко)|url=http://uapress.info/uk/news/show/19566|newspaper=Преса України|date=25 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=KP>{{cite news|title=Сашко Билый убит?|url=http://www.kp.ru/daily/26210/3095196/|newspaper=[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]]|date=25 March 2014}}</ref>), nicknamed '''Sashko Bilyi''' (Сашко Білий, {{trans}} Alex White),{{cn|date=March 2024}} was a Ukrainian political activist, a member of [[UNA-UNSO]] and coordinator of [[Right Sector]] in [[Western Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zik.ua/ua/news/2014/02/12/koordynatorom_pravogo_sektora_u_zahidniy_ukraini_stav_oleksandr_muzychko_460093|title=Координатор "Правого сектору" у Західній Україні – Олександр Музичко|publisher=zik.ua|accessdate=2014-03-08}}</ref>


Muzychko had vowed to fight "[[communist]]s, [[Jews]] and [[Russians]] for as long as blood flows in my veins."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1194100/blind-eye-turned-to-influence-of-far-right-in-ukrainian-crisis-critics/|title=Blind eye turned to influence of far-right in Ukrainian crisis: critics|publisher=[[Global News]]|date=March 7, 2014}}</ref>
Russian prosecutors accused him of killing "at least 20" captive Russian soldiers during the [[First Chechen War]]. The inquiry by the Russian Investigative Committee began in March 2014, years after the alleged killings.<ref>{{citation |url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/22169475/ukrainian-police-kill-far-right-leader-oleksandr-muzytchko/ |title=Ukrainian police kill far-right leader Oleksandr Muzytchko |agency=AFP |date=2014-03-26 |publisher=Yahoo News |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fau.news.yahoo.com%2Fworld%2Fa%2F22169475%2Fukrainian-police-kill-far-right-leader-oleksandr-muzytchko%2F&date=2014-03-25
|archivedate=2014-03-25 |quote=Russia had issued an arrest warrant for Muzytchko on suspicion that he fought alongside Islamists in the war in Chechnya where he was responsible for the deaths of 20 Russian soldiers, according to Russian news agencies. |url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>
{{citation
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/03/25/notorious-leader-of-ukraines-protests-dragged-out-of-car-shot-dead/?tid=pm_national_pop
|title=Notorious leader of Ukraine's protests shot dead. Circumstances are in dispute.
|last=McCoy
|first=Terrence
|date=2014-03-25
|work=Washington Post
|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fmorning-mix%2Fwp%2F2014%2F03%2F25%2Fnotorious-leader-of-ukraines-protests-dragged-out-of-car-shot-dead%2F%3Ftid%3Dpm_national_pop&date=2014-03-26
|archivedate=2014-03-26
|quote=Earlier this month, nearly two decades after the Chechen conflict subsided, the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal inquiry against Muzychko. Spokesman Vladimir Markin accused Muzychko of 'killing at least 20 [Russian] soldiers held in captivity,' and put him on the 'international most wanted list.'
|url-status=live
}}
</ref>

Muzychko had vowed to fight "[[communist]]s, [[Jews]] and [[Russians]] for as long as blood flows in my veins".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/1194100/blind-eye-turned-to-influence-of-far-right-in-ukrainian-crisis-critics/|title=Blind eye turned to influence of far-right in Ukrainian crisis: critics|publisher=[[Global News]]|date=March 7, 2014}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Muzychko was born near the [[Ural Mountains]] to a Ukrainian father and a [[Belarusians|Belarusian]] mother, both deported members of the [[Ukrainian Insurgent Army]].<ref>[http://www.svaboda.org/content/article/25309215.html Маці Сашка Белага — беларуска, удзельніца УПА (The Mother of Sashko Bily is Belarusian, member of the UPA)] - Report by the Belarusian service of [[Radio Free Europe]]. 24 March 2015</ref>
Muzychko was born near the [[Ural Mountains]] to a Ukrainian father and a [[Belarusians|Belarusian]] mother, both deported members of the [[Ukrainian Insurgent Army]].<ref>[http://www.svaboda.org/content/article/25309215.html Маці Сашка Белага — беларуска, удзельніца УПА (The Mother of Sashko Bily is Belarusian, member of the UPA)] - Report by the Belarusian service of [[Radio Free Europe]]. 24 March 2015</ref>


During the First Chechen War he led the UNA-UNSO "Viking" group. In 1995, Muzychko was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to an individual. In 1997, he was accused of attempting to kill a member of UNA-UNSO in Kiev.<ref>[http://espreso.tv/new/2014/03/25/%E2%80%8Bp%E2%80%99yat_faktiv_z_zhyttya_sashka_biloho Five facts from the life of Sasha Bilyi]. Espreso. March 25, 2014</ref> In 1999, Muzychko was sentenced to 3 years in prison<ref name="140307_biliy_muzychko_vc"/> for racketeering and kidnapping.{{cn|date=January 2019}} In 2009, he was accused in a hostile [[corporate raid]]. In 2012, he ran for the [[Verkhovna Rada|Ukrainian parliament]] in the 153rd electoral district ([[Rivne]]) coming sixth.
During the First Chechen War he led the UNA-UNSO "Viking" group. In 1995, Muzychko was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to an individual. In 1997, he was accused of attempting to kill a member of UNA-UNSO in Kyiv.<ref>[http://espreso.tv/new/2014/03/25/%E2%80%8Bp%E2%80%99yat_faktiv_z_zhyttya_sashka_biloho Five facts from the life of Sasha Bilyi]. Espreso. March 25, 2014</ref> In 1999, Muzychko was sentenced to 3 years in prison<ref name="140307_biliy_muzychko_vc">{{in lang|uk}} [https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/politics/2014/03/140307_biliy_muzychko_vc Sasha White: Action or Hero of the Revolution?], [[BBC Ukrainian]] (March 7, 2014)</ref> for racketeering and kidnapping.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}} In 2009, he was accused in a hostile [[corporate raid]]. In 2012, he ran for the [[Verkhovna Rada|Ukrainian parliament]] in the 153rd electoral district ([[Rivne]]) coming sixth.
{{ external media
{{ external media
| float = right
| float = right
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===Death===
===Death===
On 24 March 2014, Oleksandr Muzychko was shot dead. There are conflicting stories about how this happened.<ref name=bbcPoliceRaid /> An official inquiry concluded he had shot himself two times at the end of a police chase, one bullet scratching his skin and the other into the heart (this one proved to be fatal).<ref name=bbc-20140402/>
On 24 March 2014, Oleksandr Muzychko was shot dead. There are conflicting stories about how this happened.<ref name=bbcPoliceRaid /> An official inquiry concluded he had shot himself twice at the end of a police chase, one bullet scratching his skin and the other into the heart (this one proved to be fatal).<ref name=bbc-20140402/>


According to Ukrainian MP Oles Doniy,<ref name=bbcPoliceRaid /> a group of unknown armed people arrived in three Volkswagen minivans and kidnapped Muzychko and five other people from a café near [[Rivne]]. They murdered Muzychko behind the café with two gunshots to the heart.<ref>{{cite web|title=ФОТОРЕПОРТАЖ З МІСЦЯ РОЗСТРІЛУ ОЛЕКСАНДРА МУЗИЧКА|url=http://charivne.info/news/Fotoreportazh-z-mistsya-rozstrilu-Oleksandra-Muzichka-}}</ref><ref name=KP/><ref>{{cite news|title=На Украине убит активист "Правого сектора" Сашко Билый|url=http://vladnews.ru/2014/03/25/78356/na-ukraine-ubili-aktivista-pravogo-sektora-sashko-bilyj.html|accessdate=25 March 2014|newspaper=Vladnews|date=25 March 2014}}</ref> In another telling of Doniy's account, a group of attackers forced Muzychko to halt his car, pulled him out of the vehicle, handcuffed him and shot him.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/ultranationalist-leader-in-maidan-protests-is-shot-dead-in-ukraine-video/496788.html |title=Ultranationalist Leader in Maidan Protests Is Shot Dead in Ukraine (Video) |last=Dolgov |first=Anna |date=2014-03-25 |publisher=Moscow Times |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6OL2MVd48?url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/ultranationalist-leader-in-maidan-protests-is-shot-dead-in-ukraine-video/496788.html |archivedate=2014-03-25 |quote=Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Doniy said on his Facebook page that unknown assailants blocked off Muzychko's car, dragged him out of the vehicle, cuffed his hands behind his back, and shot him twice in the chest. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/right-sector-coordinator-muzychko-killed-in-ukraines-rivne-340741.html |title=Right Sector coordinator Muzychko killed in Ukraine's Rivne |date=2014-03-25 |publisher=Kyiv Post |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kyivpost.com%2Fcontent%2Fukraine%2Fright-sector-coordinator-muzychko-killed-in-ukraines-rivne-340741.html&date=2014-03-25 |archivedate=2014-03-25 |quote='Two vehicles cut up his car, after which he was dragged out of his car and forced into one of these vehicles. He was then thrown out of the vehicle handcuffed behind his back and with two gunshot wounds to his heart,' Doniy said. |url-status=live }}</ref>
According to Ukrainian MP Oles Doniy,<ref name=bbcPoliceRaid /> a group of unknown armed people arrived in three Volkswagen minivans and kidnapped Muzychko and five other people from a café near [[Rivne]]. They murdered Muzychko behind the café with two gunshots to the heart.<ref>{{cite news|title=ФОТОРЕПОРТАЖ З МІСЦЯ РОЗСТРІЛУ ОЛЕКСАНДРА МУЗИЧКА|newspaper=Чарівне |date=25 March 2014 |url=http://charivne.info/news/Fotoreportazh-z-mistsya-rozstrilu-Oleksandra-Muzichka-}}</ref><ref name=KP/><ref>{{cite news|title=На Украине убит активист "Правого сектора" Сашко Билый|url=http://vladnews.ru/2014/03/25/78356/na-ukraine-ubili-aktivista-pravogo-sektora-sashko-bilyj.html|accessdate=25 March 2014|newspaper=Vladnews|date=25 March 2014}}</ref> In another telling of Doniy's account, a group of attackers forced Muzychko to halt his car, pulled him out of the vehicle, handcuffed him and shot him.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/ultranationalist-leader-in-maidan-protests-is-shot-dead-in-ukraine-video/496788.html |title=Ultranationalist Leader in Maidan Protests Is Shot Dead in Ukraine (Video) |last=Dolgov |first=Anna |date=2014-03-25 |publisher=Moscow Times |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325173250/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/ultranationalist-leader-in-maidan-protests-is-shot-dead-in-ukraine-video/496788.html |archivedate=2014-03-25 |quote=Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Doniy said on his Facebook page that unknown assailants blocked off Muzychko's car, dragged him out of the vehicle, cuffed his hands behind his back, and shot him twice in the chest. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/right-sector-coordinator-muzychko-killed-in-ukraines-rivne-340741.html |title=Right Sector coordinator Muzychko killed in Ukraine's Rivne |date=2014-03-25 |publisher=Kyiv Post |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326034331/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/right-sector-coordinator-muzychko-killed-in-ukraines-rivne-340741.html |archivedate=2014-03-26 |quote='Two vehicles cut up his car, after which he was dragged out of his car and forced into one of these vehicles. He was then thrown out of the vehicle handcuffed behind his back and with two gunshot wounds to his heart,' Doniy said. |url-status=live }}</ref>


According to the interior ministry of Ukraine, Muzychko died in a shoot-out with police in a café in Rivne. According to the ministry, the police raided the café to arrest Muzychko, but he opened fire while he tried to flee. He was shot when the police returned fire. The police were able to capture him and three others, but by the time the paramedics had arrived at the scene, he had died.<ref name=bbcPoliceRaid>{{cite news|title=Ukraine far-right leader Muzychko dies 'in police raid'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26729273|accessdate=25 March 2014|newspaper=Ukraine far-right leader Muzychko dies 'in police raid'|date=25 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-nationalist-oleksandr-muzychko-killed-in-police-operation-1.2585124 |title=Ukraine nationalist Oleksandr Muzychko killed in police operation |agency=Associated Press |date=2014-03-25 |quote=The Interior Ministry said Tuesday that Muzychko was shot dead after opening fire on police. }}</ref>
According to the interior ministry of Ukraine, Muzychko died in a shoot-out with police in a café in Rivne. According to the ministry, the police raided the café to arrest Muzychko, but he opened fire while he tried to flee. He was shot when the police returned fire. The police were able to capture him and three others, but by the time the paramedics had arrived at the scene, he had died.<ref name=bbcPoliceRaid>{{cite news|title=Ukraine far-right leader Muzychko dies 'in police raid'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26729273|accessdate=25 March 2014|newspaper=Ukraine far-right leader Muzychko dies 'in police raid'|date=25 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-nationalist-oleksandr-muzychko-killed-in-police-operation-1.2585124 |title=Ukraine nationalist Oleksandr Muzychko killed in police operation |agency=Associated Press |date=2014-03-25 |quote=The Interior Ministry said Tuesday that Muzychko was shot dead after opening fire on police. }}</ref>


On 25 March, police stated that Muzychko had shot himself.<ref name=kyivpost-suicide>{{citation |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/police-kill-radical-right-sector-activist-340835.html |title=Radical Right Sector activist killed in police raid; investigators raise possibility of self-inflicted wounds |last=Rudenko |first=Olga |date=2014-03-25 |publisher=Kyiv Post |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kyivpost.com%2Fcontent%2Fukraine%2Fpolice-kill-radical-right-sector-activist-340835.html&date=2014-03-25 |archivedate=2014-03-25 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was confirmed by an inquiry by the interior ministry, who concluded he had shot himself in the heart as police tried to bring him to the ground after a chase. The inquiry also concluded he had fired previously, resulting in a scratch on his skin, and that the police had acted lawfully.<ref name=bbc-20140402>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26849934 |title=Ukraine far-right leader Sashko Bily 'shot himself' |publisher=BBC |date=2 April 2014 |accessdate=12 April 2014}}</ref>
On 25 March, police stated that Muzychko had shot himself.<ref name=kyivpost-suicide>{{citation |url=http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/police-kill-radical-right-sector-activist-340835.html |title=Radical Right Sector activist killed in police raid; investigators raise possibility of self-inflicted wounds |last=Rudenko |first=Olga |date=2014-03-25 |publisher=Kyiv Post |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325224541/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/police-kill-radical-right-sector-activist-340835.html |archivedate=2014-03-25 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was confirmed by an inquiry by the interior ministry, who concluded he had shot himself in the heart as police tried to bring him to the ground after a chase. The inquiry also concluded he had fired previously, resulting in a scratch on his skin, and that the police had acted lawfully.<ref name=bbc-20140402>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26849934 |title=Ukraine far-right leader Sashko Bily 'shot himself' |publisher=BBC |date=2 April 2014 |accessdate=12 April 2014}}</ref>


Reacting to the news about shooting Dmytro Yarosh leader of Right Sector, called for resignation of Interior Minister [[Arsen Avakov]] and the arrest of the police officers who came after Muzychko.<ref name=kyivpost-suicide/> Unknown member of the Right Sector promised to reprisal to the minister for his death.<ref>[http://dt.ua/UKRAINE/praviy-sektor-poobicyav-pomstitisya-avakovu-za-vbivstvo-sashka-bilogo-140358_.html «Правий сектор» пообіцяв помститися Авакову за вбивство Сашка Білого] // Зеркало недели. — 2014. — 25 марта.{{in lang|uk}}</ref>
Reacting to the news about the shooting, Dmytro Yarosh, leader of Right Sector, called for resignation of Interior Minister [[Arsen Avakov]] and the arrest of the police officers who came after Muzychko.<ref name=kyivpost-suicide/> Unknown member of the Right Sector promised to reprisal to the minister for his death.<ref>[http://dt.ua/UKRAINE/praviy-sektor-poobicyav-pomstitisya-avakovu-za-vbivstvo-sashka-bilogo-140358_.html «Правий сектор» пообіцяв помститися Авакову за вбивство Сашка Білого] // Зеркало недели. — 2014. — 25 марта.{{in lang|uk}}</ref>


10 days before his death Alexander Muzychko accused ukrainian police ([[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)|MIA]]) and general prosecutor offices in preparation of his assassination.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/vbitiy-sashko-biliy-za-10-dniv-do-smerti-zaklikav-priyizditi-grohnuti-yogo-341689.html|script-title=uk:Вбитий Сашко Білий за 10 днів до смерті закликав "приїздити грохнути його"|date=2014-03-25|work=ТСН.ua|access-date=2018-08-10|language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://pravyysektor.info/oficiyno/zvernennya/zayava-oleksandra-muzychka-sashka-bilogo|script-title=uk:Заява Олександра Музичка (Сашка Білого)|date=2014-03-14|work=Офіційний сайт НВР "Правий сектор|access-date=2018-08-10|language=uk}}</ref> According to Volodymyr Yevdokymov ({{Lang-uk|Володимир Євдокимов}}), a former officer of the [[Security Service of Ukraine|SSU]], Muzychko was "neutralised" during special operation of the SSU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/incidents/20140325/1000966992.html|title=Источник: целью спецоперации против Белого была его нейтрализация|publisher=[[Life News]]|accessdate=2014-03-27}}</ref>
Ten days before his death Alexander Muzychko accused Ukrainian police ([[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ukraine)|MIA]]) and general prosecutor offices of making preparations for his assassination.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tsn.ua/ukrayina/vbitiy-sashko-biliy-za-10-dniv-do-smerti-zaklikav-priyizditi-grohnuti-yogo-341689.html|script-title=uk:Вбитий Сашко Білий за 10 днів до смерті закликав "приїздити грохнути його"|date=2014-03-25|work=ТСН.ua|access-date=2018-08-10|language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://pravyysektor.info/oficiyno/zvernennya/zayava-oleksandra-muzychka-sashka-bilogo|script-title=uk:Заява Олександра Музичка (Сашка Білого)|date=2014-03-14|work=Офіційний сайт НВР "Правий сектор|access-date=2018-08-10|language=uk}}</ref> According to Volodymyr Yevdokymov ({{Langx|uk|Володимир Євдокимов}}), a former officer of the [[Security Service of Ukraine|SSU]], Muzychko was "neutralized" during a special operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ria.ru/incidents/20140325/1000966992.html|title=Источник: целью спецоперации против Белого была его нейтрализация|date=25 March 2014|publisher=[[Life News]]|accessdate=2014-03-27}}</ref>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
In [[Konotop]], a street was named after Oleksandr Muzychko.<ref>[http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2015/12/10/7092126/]</ref>
In [[Konotop]], a street was named after Oleksandr Muzychko.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2015/12/10/7092126/|title = У Конотопі назвали вулицю на честь Сашка Білого}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Soviet military personnel of the Soviet–Afghan War]]
[[Category:Soviet military personnel of the Soviet–Afghan War]]
[[Category:Chechen field commanders]]
[[Category:Chechen field commanders]]
[[Category:Ukrainian activists]]
[[Category:Ukrainian criminals]]
[[Category:Ukrainian criminals]]
[[Category:Ukrainian gangsters]]
[[Category:Ukrainian gangsters]]

Latest revision as of 05:07, 20 December 2024

Oleksandr Muzychko
Олександр Музичко
Oleksandr Muzychko during the First Chechen War
Born(1962-09-19)19 September 1962
Died24 March 2014(2014-03-24) (aged 51)
NationalityUkrainian and Belarusian
Other namesSashko Bilyi
OccupationPolitical activist
Known forCoordinator of Right Sector in Western Ukraine
AwardsHero of the Nation

Oleksandr Ivanovych Muzychko (Ukrainian: Олександр Іванович Музичко; 19 September 1962 – 24 March 2014[1][2]), nicknamed Sashko Bilyi (Сашко Білий, transl. Alex White),[citation needed] was a Ukrainian political activist, a member of UNA-UNSO and coordinator of Right Sector in Western Ukraine.[3]

Muzychko had vowed to fight "communists, Jews and Russians for as long as blood flows in my veins."[4]

Biography

[edit]

Muzychko was born near the Ural Mountains to a Ukrainian father and a Belarusian mother, both deported members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.[5]

During the First Chechen War he led the UNA-UNSO "Viking" group. In 1995, Muzychko was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to an individual. In 1997, he was accused of attempting to kill a member of UNA-UNSO in Kyiv.[6] In 1999, Muzychko was sentenced to 3 years in prison[7] for racketeering and kidnapping.[citation needed] In 2009, he was accused in a hostile corporate raid. In 2012, he ran for the Ukrainian parliament in the 153rd electoral district (Rivne) coming sixth.

External videos
video icon Muzychko and the Rivne prosecutor

On 27 February 2014, Muzychko attacked the Prosecutor of the Rivne Oblast in his office and threatened to "slay as a dog" the Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov.[8] On 28 February 2014, criminal proceedings were opened against him.[9][10]

On 7 March 2014, ITAR-TASS reported that he was wanted by Russian authorities for war atrocities.[11] On 11 March 2014, Russian State Duma opposition leader Valery Rashkin urged Russian special services to "follow Mossad examples" and assassinate Right Sector leaders Dmytro Yarosh and Muzychko.[12]

Death

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On 24 March 2014, Oleksandr Muzychko was shot dead. There are conflicting stories about how this happened.[13] An official inquiry concluded he had shot himself twice at the end of a police chase, one bullet scratching his skin and the other into the heart (this one proved to be fatal).[14]

According to Ukrainian MP Oles Doniy,[13] a group of unknown armed people arrived in three Volkswagen minivans and kidnapped Muzychko and five other people from a café near Rivne. They murdered Muzychko behind the café with two gunshots to the heart.[15][2][16] In another telling of Doniy's account, a group of attackers forced Muzychko to halt his car, pulled him out of the vehicle, handcuffed him and shot him.[17][18]

According to the interior ministry of Ukraine, Muzychko died in a shoot-out with police in a café in Rivne. According to the ministry, the police raided the café to arrest Muzychko, but he opened fire while he tried to flee. He was shot when the police returned fire. The police were able to capture him and three others, but by the time the paramedics had arrived at the scene, he had died.[13][19]

On 25 March, police stated that Muzychko had shot himself.[20] This was confirmed by an inquiry by the interior ministry, who concluded he had shot himself in the heart as police tried to bring him to the ground after a chase. The inquiry also concluded he had fired previously, resulting in a scratch on his skin, and that the police had acted lawfully.[14]

Reacting to the news about the shooting, Dmytro Yarosh, leader of Right Sector, called for resignation of Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and the arrest of the police officers who came after Muzychko.[20] Unknown member of the Right Sector promised to reprisal to the minister for his death.[21]

Ten days before his death Alexander Muzychko accused Ukrainian police (MIA) and general prosecutor offices of making preparations for his assassination.[22][23] According to Volodymyr Yevdokymov (Ukrainian: Володимир Євдокимов), a former officer of the SSU, Muzychko was "neutralized" during a special operation.[24]

Legacy

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In Konotop, a street was named after Oleksandr Muzychko.[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Вбито Сашка Білого (Музичко)". Преса України. 25 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Сашко Билый убит?". Komsomolskaya Pravda. 25 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Координатор "Правого сектору" у Західній Україні – Олександр Музичко". zik.ua. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  4. ^ "Blind eye turned to influence of far-right in Ukrainian crisis: critics". Global News. March 7, 2014.
  5. ^ Маці Сашка Белага — беларуска, удзельніца УПА (The Mother of Sashko Bily is Belarusian, member of the UPA) - Report by the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe. 24 March 2015
  6. ^ Five facts from the life of Sasha Bilyi. Espreso. March 25, 2014
  7. ^ (in Ukrainian) Sasha White: Action or Hero of the Revolution?, BBC Ukrainian (March 7, 2014)
  8. ^ Sashko Bilyi: I will destroy Avakov and hang him like a dog (Video). uapress. March 1, 2014
  9. ^ Sashko Bilyi "activist and revolutionary," which beats the prosecutor - an outlaw. uapress. February 28, 2014
  10. ^ Activist of the Right Sector Oleksandr Muzychko will be dealt by prosecutors. uapress. February 28, 2014
  11. ^ "Suspected Ukrainian gunman put on international wanted list". itar-tass.com. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  12. ^ "Российский депутат призвал спецслужбы "ликвидировать" Яроша и Белого". Lenta.ru. 11 March 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "Ukraine far-right leader Muzychko dies 'in police raid'". Ukraine far-right leader Muzychko dies 'in police raid'. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Ukraine far-right leader Sashko Bily 'shot himself'". BBC. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  15. ^ "ФОТОРЕПОРТАЖ З МІСЦЯ РОЗСТРІЛУ ОЛЕКСАНДРА МУЗИЧКА". Чарівне. 25 March 2014.
  16. ^ "На Украине убит активист "Правого сектора" Сашко Билый". Vladnews. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  17. ^ Dolgov, Anna (2014-03-25), Ultranationalist Leader in Maidan Protests Is Shot Dead in Ukraine (Video), Moscow Times, archived from the original on 2014-03-25, Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Doniy said on his Facebook page that unknown assailants blocked off Muzychko's car, dragged him out of the vehicle, cuffed his hands behind his back, and shot him twice in the chest.
  18. ^ Right Sector coordinator Muzychko killed in Ukraine's Rivne, Kyiv Post, 2014-03-25, archived from the original on 2014-03-26, 'Two vehicles cut up his car, after which he was dragged out of his car and forced into one of these vehicles. He was then thrown out of the vehicle handcuffed behind his back and with two gunshot wounds to his heart,' Doniy said.
  19. ^ "Ukraine nationalist Oleksandr Muzychko killed in police operation". Associated Press. 2014-03-25. The Interior Ministry said Tuesday that Muzychko was shot dead after opening fire on police.
  20. ^ a b Rudenko, Olga (2014-03-25), Radical Right Sector activist killed in police raid; investigators raise possibility of self-inflicted wounds, Kyiv Post, archived from the original on 2014-03-25
  21. ^ «Правий сектор» пообіцяв помститися Авакову за вбивство Сашка Білого // Зеркало недели. — 2014. — 25 марта.(in Ukrainian)
  22. ^ Вбитий Сашко Білий за 10 днів до смерті закликав "приїздити грохнути його". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  23. ^ Заява Олександра Музичка (Сашка Білого). Офіційний сайт НВР "Правий сектор (in Ukrainian). 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  24. ^ "Источник: целью спецоперации против Белого была его нейтрализация". Life News. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
  25. ^ "У Конотопі назвали вулицю на честь Сашка Білого".
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