A Moscow court has ruled that a prominent hard-line nationalist who accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of weakness and indecision in Ukraine should remain in prison on charges of extremism. Igor Strelkov, a retired security officer who led Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and was convicted of murder in the Netherlands for his role in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet that year, has argued that a total mobilization is needed for Russia to achieve victory. Moscow’s District Court ordered the 52-year-old Strelkov, whose real name is Igor Girkin, to remain in custody until Sept. 18.
A Moscow court has ruled that Igor Strelkov – who accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of weakness, led Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, and was convicted of murder in the Netherlands for his role in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines jet – will remain in prison on charges of extremism.