Repeatedly mentioned in the media private military company (PMC) “Turan”, called the largest PMCs, war in Syria, is fiction. This conclusion is contained in the investigation of the organization Conflict Intelligence Team (Cit), says Inna Sidorkova portal RBC.
What is PMC “Turan”
The first mention of this organization in the media appeared in April 2017 year online “Russian spring”. Citing its own military sources, said portal, in the province of Hama (Syria) troops began arriving some new organization Turan to combat militant groups, and “for sudden unexpected lightning attack on the enemy for directions”. The organization consists mainly of Central Asian nationals, pointed portal. According to him, in the units of PMCs were also seen people in the North and South Caucasus regions (As pointed out by the media, allegedly Azerbaijanis), and the total number of fighters ranging from 800 to 1200 human.
It is widely known about this organization was 10 October last year, when “Moscow's comsomolets” He published an interview with an anonymous “fighter private military companies in Syria”. Interlocutor publication told, that previously fought in the Donbass “the idea”, but then I went to Syria “of earnings”. According to him, large private military companies are now on the market two. “This PMC Wagner Dmitri Utkin and PMC “Turan”, Muslim battalion ", - he added.
Internet Edition “Sight” celebrated, what “Turan” also known as “Special Forces of the USSR”. “arguments of the week” called future fighters PMCs “swarthy bearded”.
“PMC “Turan” not real militia, and the fruit of a vast hoax, created mainly by one person - a correspondent ANNA News (news agency, which is specialized in news and reports from hotspots) and “Russian spring” (supporting militias resource, appeared in 2014 year amid fighting in the Donbas) Oleg Blokhin”, - say investigators from CIT. In their opinion, prototype “virtual” PMCs have served as the Soviet “Muslim battalions” the Afghan war, a “models” Photo alleged fighters “Turan” - Blokhin himself and his friend, former cameraman Alexander Rychkov REN TV. “There is no evidence of command of the PMC, job training, dead fighters or their relatives, ie all data, which abound on the actually existing PMCs Wagner”, - emphasize the investigators.
In November 2017 , there were photos, which drew attention to CIT. “studying pictures “PMC soldiers “Turan”, we notice the similarities with pictures ANNA News correspondent Oleg Blokhin”, - told in the organization.
For example, supporting Bashar al-Assad IvanSidorenko1 blogger posted on Twitter a selection of photos of PMCs “Turan”, including one with “tuned” Kalashnikov. The same photo investigators from CIT found in Blokhin's social network profile “In contact with”. The comments under this photo Blokhin told, that the picture belongs to him.
“One would assume, his shot hit the compilation with photos “PMC soldiers “Turan” by mistake, but this is contradicted by the following facts: in particular, Pictured at the Blokhin strongly tuned Kalashnikov assault rifle with milled receiver, which is identical with the machine in the picture “mercenary PMCs “Turan”, - stressed in CIT.
But the machine is not the only overlap between photos PMCs “Turan” and ANNA News correspondent Oleg Blokhin, emphasize in CIT. Investigators also noted the coincidence of the basic elements of equipment “mercenary PMCs “Turan”, standing in the back of a pickup, and most Blokhin.
“Considering all of the above, we guess, what “mercenary PMCs “Turan”, standing on the famous photograph in the back of a pickup truck, This correspondent ANNA News Oleg Blokhin ", - argue in CIT. Besides, as noted by the authors of the investigation, In November (and when there was a photo shoot PMCs “Turan”) Blokhin has published a video, where he goes in the back of a pickup truck in the same gear.
As another “mercenary PMCs “Turan” Oleg Blokhin was filmed each channel REN TV cameraman Alexander Rychkov, believed to CIT. Rychkov, confident in CIT, Blokhin is present in the pictures of Deir ez-Zor. The argument led investigators photo “PMC employee “Turan” and Rychkova, where two identical glasses and wristwatch.
Another proof, that PMCs “Turan” does not exist, - it is published 1 May video, which was issued as “first combat operations PMCs “Turan” in the province of Hama”, pay attention to the investigators of the CIT. Earlier it was similar to a half-hour video of the fighting in Al-Masdar News Lebanese blog “tiger Force” (elite formation of the Syrian army) in the province of Hama. “Image quality, setting paint, angles at the same time very similar to video “first combat operations PMCs “Turan”. It turns out, what “combat operation PMCs “Turan” It took place at the same time, in the same province, against the same opponent”, - note in the CIT.
“Many questions”
The main character of the investigation, Oleg Blokhin CIT information is not confirmed, nor denied. The journalist noted, about “tails” him “asked many questions”. “Neither me, nor by ANNA News never in my life did not come about “tails”. I do not comment at all [information, which] As for any Russian troops in Syria. As for the photographs with Kalashnikov, unclear, what she says and what does PMCs “Turan”. Therefore, out of a desire to see, that will continue, simply will not confirm, nor to deny this business”, - he said.
Blokhin added, Rychkov that his friend has nothing to do with the history of this PMC. “I dont know, why they were there dragged Sasha Rychkova. It is generally nothing at all to anything - it 100 percent - has no”.
Sam Alexander Rychkov told RBC, I never met the staff of PMCs “Turan” and “nothing about them heard”. “I think, no “Turan” does not exist”, - he said. Rychkov added, it did not act as a model for photos allegedly fighters “Turan”, because they do not wear uniforms.
Who are the CIT
Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) - a group of investigators, which collects and analyzes information about the fighting in Syria and the Donbas. It met in May 2014 year and it consists of six people, including founder Ruslan Leviev. The headquarters of the group is located in Moscow. The first loud CIT investigation was the publication of the deaths of three soldiers of the GRU special forces in the Donbas. One of the most prominent investigations was devoted to the transfer of Russian troops in Syria. These data team collected a month before the Russian military operation.
a source: chvk.info
