Here Are a lot of US, DPR Fighter in Belarus Says

Fighters of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics leave for Belarus. Belarusian special services have no claims towards them.

Correspondent of Radio Svaboda met with former DPR fighter Raman Dzumayev. Ukraine has initiated a criminal case against him for participation in illegal military groups.

Raman Dzumayev was born in Mariupol, 1991. He is software developer. In summer of 2014 he came to war against Ukrainian authorities. He was on the side of separatists, international detachment "Pyatnashka". He participated in the battle for Debaltsevo, fought against "cyborgs" in the Donetsk airport.

He's been initiated at least one criminal case against for participation in illegal military groups. Peacekeeper web-site on separatists provides information about Raman. According to the portal, he is accused of participation in illegal military groups (Article 260, paragraph 5 Criminal Code, Ukraine).

In summer of 2015 Raman left Donbas. Now he lives in Maryana Horka, Belarus. He works as sales manager and does not hide.

Former fighter has agreed to give an exclusive interview on his participation in the war and his way to Belarus.

Here I've met a lot of people who were in the "DPR" and "LPR".

- Raman, how have you managed to live in Belarus?

- I came to Belarus in late June, 2015. My mother lives here. She came here with sister at the very beginning of the conflict. And she's always wanted to see me here. And I arrived with my girlfriend. I've got a year permission to work in Belarus. I'm originally from Mariupol.

- Why have you decided to leave the "DPR"?

- My girlfriend and me took this decision. She is from Mariupol. We decided to leave right after her session was over.

Despite all checkpoints I visited her at my own risk. Then I found out that my friend from the Mariupol police had initiated another criminal case against me...

- Are you afraid of consequences?

- It all depends... I know that Belarusians who were at the war in Donbas are subject to criminal liability. But I do not violate the law in Belarus; here I am an ordinary man.

- It is clear. But Ukraine may deliver a request to extradite you.

If it happens, there must be lots of requests delivered. Here I've met a lot of people who were in the "DPR" and "LPR". There are a lot of them in Belarus. I came across a lot of them. I met the man (a Cossack one), who helped me to take care of the wounded after the bombing of the Donetsk railway station... So, it will be necessary to deliver a lot of requests.

- Have Belarusian law-enforcement agencies been interested in you? Have you been summoned for a talk?

- No. I came here from Russia. Then I visited the immigration department and asked to register me.

- How did you appear in the war?

- I worked in Kyiv, when it all happened. I saw the Maidan and how the Berkut was burnt. I didn't like it, my great grandfather used to be in the war. Then I arrived to Mariupol and in May there was a dispersion of protesters. In June there was an execution of GUVD (a part of local police supported separatists - editor's note) by Azov battalion and I witnessed it. And my friend and me decided to leave for war in Luhansk. I got my last salary in Kyiv and bought equipment. On August 4 we arrived in Donetsk by train and the station was empty. There was a camouflage Niva and a "militant" who drank coffee. We asked the way to Luhansk. He said the way Donetsk-Luhansk was closed by Ukraine's troops. He offered to stay there and we agreed.

- What did happen next?

- The "militant" drove us to the base in Stratanavtov Str, Oktyabrski village. It is next to the Donetsk airport. We were taken to posts and given SKS (Simonov semi-automatic carbine - editor's note) and 10 bullets. I never used to serve in the army, so I did not know how to use weapons. We faced mortar attack in the first night.

I spent first weeks in Stratanavtov Street. In September I was delivered to Pyatnashka international detachment and took a real training. There we met Abkhaz (warlord, head of the detachment - editor's note). We were based on Sarmat plant. It was located next to the Donetsk Christian University. People from it left for America.

- Did foreigners mainly served in the international detachment?

- Why was it called Pyatnashka? There were 15 people from Russia at once. There were also 4 people from France and then Abkhazians. But then most of them were local ones. Russians made up 30% of the detachment.

We've always supported Russia

- I do not understand. It turns out that you used to live and work in Kyiv when it all started. So, the war did not come to your house. You could stay away from it all. Why?

- You know... My great grandfather was in the war and returned with no arm. He had the Saint George's Ribbon, and we have always supported Russia. And now... I joined the "Donetsk Republic", because I am from Maruipol. I saw how people work and try to save a penny. And here some people scream that they want to join Europe.

- But they did not bother you. Russian language was free to speak in Donbas.

- Everything was good. There were no restrictions, first. But then Berkut, originally from Donetsk region, was burnt and people were resented. However, there were few people who were satisfied with Berkut and the police.

What is the true meaning of "militia"? Everyone had his own interest. I was trying to honour the memory of my great grandfather. For people from western Ukraine did not feel like home here in Mariupol.

- Do you feel like Russia has betrayed Donbas?

- When you are here then you may think like that... I would not say that it has betrayed. It is likely possible that it has been done by some authority here in Donbas. Bolotov was the first leader of the "LPR". His deputy now plays in a cafe in Kyiv. Ukrainian activists ask him what he is doing there. He says he's got a paper from the SSU about no claims. They were initiators of those events and now they have washed hands.