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Is it likely that @Facebook's fact-checker of choice in Ukraine "Stop Fake" will cover issues related to the far right, neo-Nazism justly? Food for thought in these recent photos featuring Stop Fake's contributor Marko Suprun and known Ukrainian far-right, neo-Nazi figures.
The photos apparently taken at the January 2020 premier of a recent Ukrainian patriotic movie "Our Kittens" were posted to @Instagram page of Ukrainian neo-Nazi band "Sokyra Peruna".
The most notable far-right figure next to Marko Suprun in the photos is the lead singer of neo-Nazi "Sokyra Peruna" band Arseniy Bilodub. Bilodub is a seminal neo-Nazi organizer, and sits on the board of the Right Sector party. @ColborneMichael has more https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europe/.premium-the-upcoming-neo-nazi-concert-in-ukraine-that-no-one-is-talking-about-1.7391007
Arseniy Biolodub has long been involved with the "Sva Stone" neo-Nazi clothing brand, and reportedly runs it. Read more about "Sva Stone" from @nickrobinsearly https://www.huffpost.com/entry/facebook-nazi-clothing-extremism_n_5b5b5cb3e4b0fd5c73cf2986
Although allegedly Marko Suprun has long been friends with the lead singer of the Sokyra Peruna band & neo-Nazi organizer Arseniy Bilodub, appeared next to him on various occasions, Stop Fake apparently doesn't think that this merits an explanation https://twitter.com/kooleksiy/status/1232067698785427456
Stop Fake's silence re the apparent relationship between SF contributor Marko Suprun and neo-Nazi figure Arseniy Bilodub is also notable because recently Stop Fake covered a scandal that Bilodub's band was an element of - https://www.stopfake.org/en/fake-fascism-returns-to-ukraine/
In Jan 2020 photos Stop Fake's Suprun (recent @CNN guest, husband of ex-top official Ulana Suprun) is seen holding Diana Vynogradova/Kamluk, current Right Sector figure who spent time behind bars for her role in 2006 hate-motivated murder of a Nigerian man https://www.segodnya.ua/criminal/pervoe-v-ukraine-delo-o-racictckom-ubijctve-parni-bili-afrikantsa-nohami-i-vonzili-v-cpinu-nozh-90831.html
Diana Vynogradova/Kamluk seen with Stop Fake's Marko Suprun in recent photos is now better known as a "Right Sector" figure, but she's also notorious for "warning" 2013 Maidan protesters "not to give in to supplications from the K*kes"
Standing next to Marko Suprun in the photo is also one of the leaders of Ukraine's notorious C14 group Voitko. His org (and C14's branch) "Union of Veterans of the War With Russia" receives $$ funding from the state https://twitter.com/kooleksiy/status/1222953083858309120?s=20
Stop Fake has long (and recently) been accused of downplaying Ukraine's far-right issues. It's only logical that now after being picked as @Facebook's fact-checker in Ukraine it should be held to a high standard. But IMO such criticism shouldn't be selective. limited to SF alone
When scrutinizing Stop Fake, asking questions re SF contributor's appearances next to notorious far right figures, remember that few in Ukraine see the far right, their violence as an issue. SF is simply in tune with Ukraine's civic society& Gov not West's https://twitter.com/kooleksiy/status/1100948789140045824
Fair to say that the highest Ukrainian officials (including Ukraine's president @ZelenskyyUa, others), civil society figures have no qualms about engaging with the far right as legitimate civic activists, partners etc. Examples truly ABOUND https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2019/11/11/ukraines-ministry-of-veterans-affairs-embraced-the-far-right-with-consequences-to-the-u-s/
Surely the far right barely have much support (~2% in recent elex), BUT it appears to be a FAIT ACCOMPLI that they are normalized, enjoy impunity, have outsized influence in some quarters in Ukraine. THIS is the issue that Western experts, leaders, media should address as a whole
. @Facebook's fact-checker of choice in Ukraine "Stop Fake" should explain its stance re far right and SF contributor Marko Suprun's appearances next to Ukrainian far-right& neo-Nazi figures, BUT let's admit it the Far Right have been normalized in Ukraine https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1249384258105495553.html
