The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s office has published audio tapes of telephone conversation with Putin’s advisor Sergey Glazyev, recorded two years ago.
Glazyev was one of the key figures in the realization of the Russian invasion on the territory of Ukraine in 2014.
About the translation.
Dialogues often are fragmentary and emotional, which is not surprising taking into account that participants call directly to the Kremlin during the storming of Regional State Administration (RSA) or meetings of the Members of Parliament (MPs). Much of the dialogues don’t have logical beginning or end – probably secret services decided to hold some information from records. So we concentrated on showing the talk sense, not on the literal translation.
Many things are self-evident for the counterparts, while for English speaking listener they are very unclear. We tried previously to explain some moments and briefly introduce with personalities before each dialogue. For a better understanding in the subtitles you can see [clarifying words -inserts].
Unlike recording uploaded by Ukrainian Prosecutor office conversations are in chronological order.
For a better understanding of events showed in the records, we highly recommend to get acquainted with the following materials:
- How Russia has prepared for aggression against Ukraine for 10 years. Instruments of hybrid war: diplomacy, media and culture
- “Hybrid warfare” as a key instrument of the Russian revenge geostrategy
- Hybrid technology of ethnic pressures: instrument of the Russian geostrategy
All who doubts in the originality of the audio can compare recorded voices to official records
- Sergey Glazyev – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0aB5kBDvWA
- Konstantin Zatulin – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDTW08nV4Lk
- SergeyAksyonov – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxx-XeFZSjs
- Kirill Frolov – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm5UnmOs6cM
- Denis Yatsyuk – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC1jayBJSAA
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In 2014 the Russian Federation headed by President Putin launched aggression against Ukraine. The goal of Russia is trying to create “Novorossiya” – separated from Ukraine number of south-eastern regions with a population near 16 million people.
Russia acted using methods of hybrid war – sent troops without identification marks, and as a pretext for intervention used organized by it pro-Russian protests.
One of the key figures in the realization of the Russian invasion on the territory of Ukraine is Russian presidential adviser Sergey Glazyev.
Sergey Glazyev is a Russian politician. He was a minister in 1993, a member of the State Duma in 1993-2007, and ran for President of Russia in 2004. Glazyev was a co-founder of the Rodina party.
27.02.2014
Konstantin Zatulin reports Glazyev that he was leaving to Crimea to monitor the formation of the self-proclaimed pro-Russian government.
Konstantin Zatulin – Russian politician, first deputy chairman of the committee of the State Duma for the CIS and relations with Russian nationals abroad.
“Knyrik” – Konstantin Knyrik, Crimean politician, head of news agency “News Front”. Since 2016 – head of political party “Rodina” in Crimea.
Sergey Glazyev: Listen Kostia, there began forming a new executive, judging by statements of Aksionov, some coordination council!
It is necessary our Knyrik not to be forgotten there and all people on the street [riot], because they do not trust Aksionov and can go away.
Konstantin Zatulin: Well I’ll tell you that tomorrow morning I am leaving there so I’ll try to intervene in the process as much as possible.
Sergey Glazyev: It is necessary those guys on the street to delegate their representatives in this executive council.
Konstantin Zatulin: I understand.
Sergey Glazyev: And they can spit and go away. There is such risk.
27.02.2014
Glazyev and Zatulin discuss organizing mass riots in Odesa and Kharkiv Regions.
Oplot – Fight Club and pro-Russian organization in Kharkiv (Ukraine). Its members distinguished in physical violence against the Euromaidan’s protesters. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in eastern Ukraine they organized a separate battalion Oplot, that is fighting against the Ukrainian army. In December 2014 U.S. adds Oplot to sanctions list of Ukrainian Separatists and Russian Individuals and Entities
“Odesa Druzhyna” – pro-Russian organization organized by members of Russian «Black Hundred», National Bolshevik Party and other neoNazi organizations.
Konstantin Zatulin:… That’s the main story. I want to say about other regions – we have financed Kharkiv, financed Odesa.
So have taken applications from other regions, but as for now I slowed all down, because yet has not solved financial issue, but in the end I will stay alone with these obligations. Now I have paid to Kazaki the money, that they were promised by 10 people, but no one gave anything, well, etc.
In general, on the financial issue are starting to annoy.
Sergey Glazyev: So you say, have paid? And who paid?
Konstantin Zatulin: I paid, and who else?
Sergey Glazyev: So, you paid.
Konstantin Zatulin: Well, there are small sums of 2 thousands, 3 thousands, like these. I have 4 requests signed by Chalyi for 50 thousand.
Sergey Glazyev: Then you have to make a cost estimate, I will give it to those, let them work on the estimate.
27.02.2014
In the reception Glazyev called Tamara Ilyina – trustee of the Oplot’s head Yevgen Zhylin.
Yevgen Zhylin – leader of the organization Oplot, a former police officer accused in a double murder and other crimes. Because of intimidation of witnesses and corruption in the Ukrainian courts the case against him was closed. In 2010 he founded the pro-Russian public organization Oplot.
Tamara Ilyina – vice-chairman of Oplot, head of the Information Agency “Oplot”. After the failure of the Russians in Kharkiv, ran away to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR, DNR), were closely cooperated with the “head” of DPR Zakharchenko and engaged in supplying food to the occupied territories.
Unknown: Glazyev’s Reception, good day.
Tamara Ilyina: Girl, Hello, My name is Tamara. I’m calling from Kharkiv to Sergey Yuriyovych from Zhylin Eugene Volodymyrovych from Oplot. There they had some conversation … it is needed to get an answer about Kharkiv. Ask please.
Sergey Glazyev: Hello.
Tamara Ilyina: Hello, Sergey Yuriyovych! My name is Tamara. I am from Zhylin Eugene Vladimirovich from Oplot on the issue of the estimates for people. We’ve sent it to Sokolov…
Sergey Glazyev: I gave Your coordinates, including his … more precisely his coordinates gave to those who among us works with this. They must connect you. They will connect him.
Tamara Ilyina: Well, thank you sorry for trouble You.
28.02.2014
Glazyev and Zatulin discuss financing of riots in Odessa and Kharkiv Regions.
Kazaki – Russian paramilitary organizations actively participated in riots, and later in the fighting on the territories of the Luhansk and Donetsk Regions. Especially became famous their head chieftain Kozitsyn who commented the tragedy of shot passenger Boeing MH17 “No fu..king reason to fly, war is going»
Sergey Glazyev: No, can not wait, if someone is ready they can go.
Konstantin Zatulin: But their possibilities are on words …
Sergey Glazyev: So you must know. So, look, if there are ready …
Konstantin Zatulin: At least there are Kharkiv and Odesa
Sergey Glazyev: Then they must be somehow recorded. Can you pass me somehow their names?
Konstantin Zatulin: Well this, with whom we worked, it is Oplot .. it’s one that you met. And Odesa is “Odesa Druzhyna”
Sergey Glazyev: Are you sure that Oplot is able to do?
Konstantin Zatulin: They say they keep their people on the square [in front of Regional State Administration ].
Sergey Glazyev: Well, I’ll ask again.
01.03.2014
Glazyev instructs unknown man on the organization of mass unrest and create a pretext for invading army of Russian Federation.
“Banderovtsy” (term derived from the name of the person Stepan Bandera). In soviet propaganda – Ukrainian nationalists (living abroad and in Ukraine) who opposed the Soviet national policy. In fact Banderivets is called any Ukrainian who goes against the Kremlin. (In further dialogue Glazyev himself says it in direct text).
Sergey Glazyev: Hi, Anatoliy Petrovych, why is Zaporizhia silent, where are they? We know exactly that he had a thousand of people. Where they are? Where are Kazaki?
I have an order to raise everybody, to raise people. People should gather in the square to demand turn to Russia for help against “banderovtsy”.
Specially trained people should knock out “Banderovtsy” from the building council, and then they should arrange the meeting of the regional state administration, gather executive authorities. Collect regional executive committee and give him the executive power and subordinate police to this new executive. I have direct orders – to raise the people in Ukraine where we can.
So we must take people to the streets, so do as in Kharkiv and as soon as possible.
Because as you see the president has signed a decree, operation began, here has reported that the military are raised. What are they waiting for?
We can not do everything with force, we use the power to support people, not more. And if there are no people, what support there might be?
Listen well, tell him that it is a very serious talk about the fate of the country and therefore there the war is going…
01.03.2014
A citizen of Russia Kirill Frolov reports to Glazyev about organizers of the riot in Odesa and asks for instructions on further actions.
Kirill Frolov – a citizen of the Russian Federation, the founder of the pro-Russian religious organization Union of Orthodox Citizens of Ukraine, one of the organizers of the riots in Odesa in spring 2014.
Kharkiv Congress – Congress of pro-Russian deputies on Feb. 22, 2014, declared that they take power in the country in their hands. On the Congress was expected Yanukovych’s speech with the appeal to Putin, but Yanukovych has not appeared and on this the Congress ended.
Kirill Frolov: Hello. Sergey Yuriyovych, I’m reporting. So, there were very many people. Write down 40. Complete square. So, that is because of Anton … the most important is that he invited the “liberators” of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Verhovna Rada of Crimea) to “free” Odesa. So checkpoints at the entrance to the Odesa Region…
Sergey Glazyev: Well first it’s just the beginning of the process. Because until the Regional State Administration don’t meet and not make decision that it considers illegitimate authorities in Kyiv and in accordance to the recommendations of the Kharkiv Congress …
Kirill Frolov: They are afraid and it is not clear if they gather together next week.
Sergey Glazyev: So that’s the matter, cannot go away. Must storm Regional State Administration’s building, gather its members, to force to make decisions.
Kirill Frolov: Well, for this for one day should arrive a few people to give us clear instructions. The more you told me “to bring” …
Sergey Glazyev: Look, the situation in the process. Kharkiv Regional State Administration has been already stormed, in Donetsk the Regional State Administration has been stormed. It is necessary to storm Regional State Administration and gather regional deputies there!
Kirill Frolov: All understood.
Sergey Glazyev: And don’t go away before this. If you gather in a week – there will be already “Banderovtsy” with the police and no one will be let in.
Kirill Frolov: Well … if tomorrow bring to you people [for instructions] for a few hours? In the morning you will take them, and they will come back.
Sergey Glazyev: Listen, why do they need to go now?! They should storm the Regional State Administration, make a decision and then send a messenger here … if needed. Or do we ourselves have to send people there?!
Kirill Frolov: All understood.
Sergey Glazyev: No need to pull the rubber! We must make a decision and go for decisive action! So, as was done in Kharkiv and Donetsk. There Regional State Administrations are stormed by our boys. And here must be done the same. Go to the Regional State Administration and gather Deputies. No need to go away, must go further. If we talk, go away – it will end in defeat.
01.03.2014
After he has received instructions from Glazyev, Frolov finds people who are ready to storm the Regional State Administration and forces MPs to take an appeal to Putin. He connects with Glazyev Denis Yatsyuk.
Denis Yatsyuk – one of the leaders of the “Odesa druzhyna.” After the failure of the Russians in Odesa he ran away to Donetsk where he took an active part in terrorist activities “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DNR, DPR).
Kirill Frolov: Sergey Yuriyovych, please tell a few words to people who are ready.
Sergey Glazyev: Hello.
Denis Yatsyuk: Sergey Yuriyovych, my name is Denys, I’m from Odesa. We have people who are ready, in principle, to act, but we need some specific clear, understandable pieces of advice. What, who will support, if we will have the guarantee that tomorrow will not come here from Kyiv several buses [with the police] and not …
Sergey Glazyev: So, I can say the following. First, we have now the Federation Council voting, have voted for the presidential decree on the use of [the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of Ukraine]…
Denis Yatsyuk: We know, we know.
Sergey Glazyev: You know, right? That’s why it is very serious and will support you, does not worry.
Denis Yatsyuk: Understand.
Sergey Glazyev: Second. It is very important that people appeal to Putin. Mass appeals directly to him with a request to protect, an appeal to Russia, etc. This appeal has been already in your meeting.
Denis Yatsyuk: Yes.
Sergey Glazyev: The third moment. It is very important for us the Regional State Administration to gather now. And for this it must be provided, as it was done in Kharkiv – in Kharkiv people came into [the regional administration] threw all “Banderovtsy” out, found the ammunition depot, now engage its disposal and will gather Regional State Administration and will also appeal to our President.
Plus the Regional State Administration’s decision that does not recognize the legitimate Kyiv authorities that these are criminal authorities and so on. That’s a very important moment – to take the Regional State Administration to allow the deputies to come. And also explain to MPs they in this situation are obliged to come and vote.
Who does not come and vote is the traitor, “Banderovets”, fascist and so on with all outcomes. They as MPs must take responsibility in the Odesa Region. They were chosen by people to make decisions.
So it is needed to clearly explain to them that their duty is to come to Regional State Administration and make the decision. Along certainly they must be protected from the pressure of “Banderovtsy” and that they must be confident that they are in a safe situation. It should accordingly take all these buildings under control.
Denis Yatsyuk: I understand you. We are ready for this, but we need to understand terms. Today we can organize. Do we have time till tomorrow?
Sergey Glazyev: Well, theoretically, but it is better that before tomorrow morning everything to be done and Regional State Administration to be put before the fact.
Denis Yatsyuk: So we after storming [building of Regional State Administration] gather a session of the Regional State Administration, right? We invite MPs and force them to vote?
Sergey Glazyev: Yes Yes Yes. You just bring them, as these did. Fluctuating easy to peel and bring on.
Denis Yatsyuk: OK, I see. We are then going to an emergency meeting. Well Sergey Yuriyovych.
Sergey Glazyev: And keep in touch with Kirill.
01.03.2014
To Glazyev’s Reception calls Valeriy Kaurov with the message that pro-Russian protesters managed to storm the Odessa Regional administration.
Valeriy Kaurov – a citizen of Ukraine, head of the pro-Russian religious organization Union of Orthodox Citizens of Ukraine, one of the organizers of the riots in Odesa in spring 2014. In April 2014 he ran away to Moscow, where he proclaimed himself “the head of Odessa People’s Republic.”
Sergey Tkachuk – Glazyev’s assistant, project manager of Scientific Center for Eurasian Integration.
Unknown: Glazyev’s Reception, good day.
Valeriy Kaurov: Hello, I need Sergey. Valeriy Kaurov from Odesa. We stormed the Regional State Administration. I need Sergey.
Unknown: A moment.
Valeriy Kaurov: Urgently.
Sergey Tkachuk: Hello.
Valeriy Kaurov: Hello, Sergey, we have a group of activists broke through the session. Now I will speak.
Sergey Tkachuk: You broke the session, I understood.
Valeriy Kaurov: Help, help, help is needed.
Sergey Tkachuk: Help, yes. Now try to quickly solve, call each other.
Valeriy Kaurov: We broke …
Sergey Tkachuk: We have received information that you broke, well.
06.03.2014
Sergey Glazyev gives instructions breakaway Ministers of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov.
Sergey Aksyonov – in the mid 1990s was a member of the organized criminal gang “Salem” with the nickname “Goblin”. Since 2003 – a citizen of Russia, Chairman of Crimean organisation Russian Unity. After the occupation of Crimea nominated Putin as the head of the government of Crimea.
Unknown: Sergey Valeryevich, good day. Glazyev’s Reception bothers You.
Sergey Glazyev: I want to express some thoughts
Sergey Aksyonov: Yes. Yes.
Sergey Glazyev: So first of all, I think that the questions on referendum are formulated badly. This is not just my opinion, here, we think, how to put them so that they can be clearly understood by people. Because many won’t vote simply for the words “as part of Ukraine” .
Sergey Aksyonov: No, as a part of Ukraine are not going. Today we do not expect that for Ukraine will vote.
Just there our colleagues work, here landed five groups of your compatriots. There from various organizations, that brought, including ready concerted materials, as if with the State Duma from the viewpoint of the State Duma appropriate decision making.
Translated by UaPosition
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Comment by Andreas Umland – German political scientist and historian, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation:
The most important aspect of these conversations are the dates on which they were reportedly recorded, i.e. in late February and early March 2014. They imply that not only the so-called “civil war” in Ukraine was triggered by Russia. The social conflict that preceded the use of guns had also already been secretly orchestrated, guided and financed from Moscow, as I suspected in my September 2014 comment “In Defense of Conspirology” for PONARS Eurasia. See: http://www.ponarseurasia.org/node/7274
Most Ukrainian presentations of these audio documents miss the fine distinction between Moscow’s “help” to the instigators of the “civil war” starting in April 2014, and Moscow’s earlier “help” in organizing and financing the “Russian Spring” of February-March 2014 that preceded the actual war. For the Western public, that is an important difference as it concerns the nature and origins of the entire conflict.
There were various earlier signs like the many revealing statements by Igor Girkin or the reports on Russia’s military activities in Eastern Ukraine by theEurasia Center of the Atlantic Council, The Interpreter Magazine, Bellingcat orBoris Nemtsov. The earliest most important scholarly paper already indicating the above was published in 2015 by Nikolay Mitrokhin and can be downloaded here: “Infiltration, Instruction, Invasion: Russia’s War in the Donbass”http://spps-jspps.autorenbetreuung.de/files/07-mitrokhin.pdf
Even Andrew Wilson may have to revise his recent argument in “Europe-Asia Studies” about Russia’s relative role in the escalation of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. See: The Donbas in 2014: Explaining Civil Conflict Perhaps, but not Civil War http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09668136.2016.1176994
PS: Facebook comment by Anton Shekhovtsov:
I also noticed two very important aspects that I’m afraid I underestimated before:
(1) Moscow’s urgent need for massive _local_ insurgency – no matter whether those locals would be ideologically mobilised or simply bought, Moscow needed them to present a picture of a native uprising and justify the military invasion “in defence of the people”.
(2) Moscow explicitly referred to the “Crimean case” and the permission to use Russian armed forces outside the country stressing that insurgent Ukrainian regions would be joined to Russia. At the moment, it is impossible to determine whether Moscow lied or didn’t lie about the intention to join those regions; however, it is very important that such a promise (“we will help, as we helped in Crimea”) was intended to radicalise the locals and mobilise them to fight against the “Banderites” to their last breath.
