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Beness Aijo

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Beness Aijo
Бенес Айо
Aijo in 2020
Personal details
Born(1979-06-08)8 June 1979(age 45)
Rēzekne,Latvian SSR,Soviet Union
Citizenship
Political partyThe Other Russia of E. V. Limonov
Other political
affiliations
Alma materUniversity of Latvia(BSc)
Birkbeck, University of London(MMSc)
OccupationPolitical activist
Known forNational Bolshevikactivism
NicknameBlack Lenin
Military service
AllegianceRussia
Branch/serviceInterbrigades
Years of service2014
2015–present
Battles/wars

Beness Khristoferovich Aijo(Russian:Бенес Христоферович Айо;born 8 June 1979), also known by his nickname "Black Lenin"[1](Russian:Чёрный Ленин), is aLatvian-bornRussianpolitical activist. He has been active in theNational Bolshevikmovement since 1998[2][3]and has been repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for his political activities in various countries.

Born in the city ofRēzekneto a Russian mother and aUgandanfather, Aijo spent most of his early life in Latvia before moving to theUnited Kingdomto pursue hismaster's degreeatBirkbeck College, University of London.He joined theCommunist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)during his time inLondonand participated in many of the party's demonstrations.

In 2014, Aijo travelled to Crimea to support theRussian annexation of the peninsula.He later participated inpro-Russian demonstrationsin theDonbasbefore being arrested by Ukrainian authorities and deported to Latvia. Aijo fled Latvia in 2015 despite being under criminal investigation and police surveillance. He eventually made his way to theLuhansk People's Republic,where he joinedThe Other Russia'sparamilitary group, theInterbrigades.He later received a passport from theDonetsk People's Republic,which he used to enter Russia in early 2020. The Russian government granted Aijopolitical asylumin October 2020 and Russian citizenship in December 2022. The Latvian government revoked Aijo's Latvian citizenship in response to the latter.

Biography[edit]

Early life and activism[edit]

Beness Aijo was born inRēzekne,Latvian SSR,Soviet Union.His father isUgandanand his mother isRussian.He studied biology at theUniversity of Latvia.[4]He is anOrthodoxOld Believer.[5]

On 7 May 2005, Aijo was arrested for setting offsmoke bombsduring the visit ofGeorge W. BushtoLatvia.[6]Later that year, Aijo was arrested and sentenced to 9 months in prison for calling for the overthrow of Latvia's political system.[7]In prison, Aijo subsequently went on ahunger strikethat lasted for 27 days until his health deteriorated enough to require hospitalisation.[8][9]After spending five and a half months in jail, his security measure was changed from imprisonment to police surveillance at Aijo's request, when he cited hisdiabetes.[10][11]

Thereafter, Aijo left Latvia and moved toLondonin theUnited Kingdom.He studiedMedical Microbiologyat theUniversity of London, Birkbeck.[6]Later in London, Aijo worked as a construction worker at theHeathrow Terminal 2.[12]He played an active role in political rallies in the UK, where he was a member of theCommunist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist).[13]

From May–June 2013 he was in Palestine, where he took part in actions against the Israeli government. While in Palestine Aijo received medical training in the field.[14]

On 14 September 2013, inMoscow,Aijo participated in the congress of the political partyThe Other Russia.[15]On 19 November 2013, Aijo participated in London in adirect actionin memory ofAleksandr Dolmatov.[16]On 29 November 2013, he organized inThe Haguefurther direct action in memory of Dolmatov. Beness was arrested[17][18][19]and spent six weeks in a Dutch prison.[20]

Involvement in pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine[edit]

Aijo departed for Crimea in 2014. He was arrested inDonetskon 1 April 2014 for "preparation of an armed coup to overthrow the government and to undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine"[21][22]and deported to theUnited Kingdom,where Aijo took part of demonstrations for a couple of weeks.[23]

In May 2014, despite the ban from entering the country for three years, Aijo attempted to cross into Ukraine together with two more activists. He was detained by theUkrainian Border Guard,and deported to Latvia, where he was detained by theSecurity Policeand theState PoliceatRiga Airport.[24]Aijo made claims he had been tortured and beaten by theUkrainian National Guard.[23]

On 16 May 2014, the Riga Central District Court ordered Aijo taken into custody and the Security Police commenced criminal prosecution for incitement to violently overthrow thegovernment of Latvia,to change the political system, and to liquidate Latvian national independence.[24]On the night to 30 Maypetardsandsmoke grenadeswere thrown at the Latvian general consulate in St. Petersburg by members of theThe Other Russia party,who set up aSoviet flagon thefaçadeof the building, distributedpamphletsand demanded release of Aijo.[25][26]

Aijo has participated in several demonstrations in Riga since, including the 15 August demonstration against Latvia's foreign policy towards Russia and to call for the dismissal ofMinister of Foreign AffairsEdgars Rinkēvičs.[27][28]

In early 2015, with an ongoing criminal case and while being under police surveillance Aijo fled Latvia byhitch-hikingtoTallinn,where he took a ferry toFinlandand then traveled to Russia by bus, eventually arriving inEastern Ukraine.There he joined the armed forces of the self-proclaimedLuhansk People's Republic[29]in what he described as "military-political work", i.e., writing articles for a local newspaper,[30]but he also expressed a desire to undergo training and sign up foractive service.[31]Riga Central District Court subsequently launched amanhuntfor Aijo.[32][33]

Aijo later reported taking part in pro-Russian operations inDebaltseveand nearStanytsia Luhanskaamong other places and being promoted tosergeant,going from a gunner on an artilleryhowitzerto a member of amotorized infantrybrigade.[34]In the middle of April 2019, Aijo was declared a suspect by the Latvia's State Security Service in a case regarding illegal participation in thepro-Russian unrest in Ukraine.[35]

In early 2020, Aijo entered Russia using a passport from the unrecognisedDonetsk People's Republic.He was later detained inYarensk,Arkhangelsk Oblast,where Aijo was planning to take part in a protest against the construction of a garbage landfill.[36]The Latvian Prosecutor General's Office requested his extradition to Latvia,[37][38]while Aijo askedVladimir Putinforpolitical asylumin Russia.[39]Aijo was released from prison in February 2020[40]and granted political asylum in Russia in October.[41]

Aijo joined theCommunist Party of the Russian Federationsome time after 2020, according to the party's website.[42]

On 17 May 2021, a Latvian court in Riga found Aijo guilty of "calling for the violent overthrow of the government, the liquidation of Latvian independence, and the undermining of the territorial integrity of Latvia". He was sentencedin absentiato two years and six months in prison, as well as one year of probation.[41]

In December 2022, Aijo was granted Russian citizenship.[43]On 6 February 2023, the Latvian Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office revoked Aijo's Latvian citizenship.[44][45]

References[edit]

  1. ^Matveeva, Anna (2017).Through Times of Trouble: Conflict in Southeastern Ukraine Explained from Within.Le xing ton Books.p. 231.ISBN978-1498-5432-3-1.Black Lenin(Aijo Beness), a Latvian citizen, a son of a Russian mother and a Ugandan father, and a member of LeftistDrugaya Rossiaparty in Russia and of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)...
  2. ^Айо Бенес — магистр биологии и профессор НБП
  3. ^Геополитика с Айо Бенесом. Часть 1
  4. ^Айо Бенес — магистр биологии и профессор НБПArchived5 April 2014 at theWayback Machine.D-pils.lv (23 March 2005). Retrieved on 1 May 2014.
  5. ^Collier, Mike (28 August 2014)."Latvia: Neo-Bolshevik Vexes Government".Eurasianet.Retrieved28 August2014.I pray. I go to church, maybe not as often as I should but I am a Christian, an Orthodox Old Believer.
  6. ^abCollier, Mike (28 August 2014)."Latvia: Neo-Bolshevik Vexes Government".Eurasianet.Retrieved28 August2014.
  7. ^Noraida Benesa Aijo lietā iesniegto kasāciju.Delfi.lv (5 December 2005). Retrieved on 1 May 2014.
  8. ^"Beness Aijo goes on a hunger strike"(in Latvian).Delfi.5 December 2005.Retrieved1 May2014.
  9. ^"Beness Aijo has ended the hunger strike"(in Latvian).Delfi.5 January 2006.Retrieved1 May2014.
  10. ^"Beness Aijo released from imprisonment"(in Latvian).Delfi.20 July 2006.Retrieved1 May2014.
  11. ^"Benes Ayo: After my weight went down to 45 kg, they had to let me out"(in Russian).TVNet.21 July 2006.Retrieved1 May2014.
  12. ^Wright, Simon; Cortbus, Colin; Drake, Matthew (19 July 2014)."Malaysia Airlines Crash: 'Dangerous' British student with Putin links is leading Russian rebel in Ukraine".Mirror.Retrieved3 August2014.
  13. ^Collier, Mike (31 July 2014)."An Unlikely Revolutionary: Beness Aijo".Retrieved21 January2022.I am a member of the Marxist Leninist Communist party of Great Britain and our aim is socialism in Britain and elsewhere.
  14. ^An interview with Aijo Beness
  15. ^Айо Бенес стал делегатом съезда партии Лимонова от Латвии, Британии и Палестины.Rus.delfi.lv (18 September 2013). Retrieved on 1 May 2014.
  16. ^Активисты «Другой России» забросали дымовыми шашками посольство Голландии в Лондоне.Nvdaily.ru (20 November 2013). Retrieved on 1 May 2014.
  17. ^Айо Бенес или о том как "летучего голландца" судили в Гааге.Echo.msk.ru (17 October 2011). Retrieved on 1 May 2014.
  18. ^Требовавший расследовать смерть Александра Долматова нацбол Бенес Айо арестован в НидерландахArchived2 May 2014 at theWayback Machine.Hroniki.info. 1 December 2013.
  19. ^Голландия передумала судить другоросса Бенеса Айо за терроризм.Newsland (27 April 2014). Retrieved on 1 May 2014.
  20. ^Бенес Айо освободился из голландской тюрьмыArchived2 May 2014 at theWayback Machine.Drugoros.ru. 10 January 2014.
  21. ^In Donetsk arrested Ayo BenesArchived8 June 2014 at theWayback Machine.News2Night. Retrieved on 1 May 2014.
  22. ^Extremists from the Crimea get over to Donetsk: on meeting for Yanukovych Aksenov's black "fighter".News.pn (22 March 2014). Retrieved on 1 May 2014.
  23. ^abCollier, Mike (31 July 2014)."An Unlikely Revolutionary: Beness Aijo".Public Broadcasting of Latvia.Retrieved3 August2014.
  24. ^ab"Bolshevik Aijo ordered locked up".The Baltic Times.19 May 2014.Retrieved1 May2014.
  25. ^"'Other Russia' movement hooligans attack Latvian consulate ".The Baltic Times.30 May 2014.Retrieved2 June2014.
  26. ^"National Bolshevik Aijo Beness' supporters attack Latvian general consulate in Russia".Baltic News Network.30 May 2014.Retrieved2 June2014.
  27. ^"Around 50 demonstrators outside Foreign Ministry in Riga demand Rinkevics' resignation".The Baltic Course.15 August 2014.Retrieved15 August2014.
  28. ^"Radical Russians rally against foreign policy".Public Broadcasting of Latvia.15 August 2014.Retrieved15 August2014.
  29. ^"Bolshevik renegade runs to Lugansk, defies arrest".Public Broadcasting of Latvia.12 January 2015.Retrieved5 February2015.
  30. ^"Beness Aijo flees Latvia by means of hitch-hiking".Baltic News Network.LETA.12 January 2015.Retrieved5 February2015.
  31. ^"Beness Aijo boasts his promotion in the ranks of separatists in Donbass".Baltic News Network.5 June 2015.Retrieved11 June2015.
  32. ^"Latvian authorities launch manhunt for National Bolshevik Beness Aijo".Baltic News Network.4 February 2015.Retrieved5 February2015.
  33. ^"Aijo on the lam for anti-Latvia activism".Public Broadcasting of Latvia.4 February 2016.Retrieved5 February2015.
  34. ^"Beness Aijo 'on the front line' in Ukraine".Public Broadcasting of Latvia.2 March 2015.Retrieved3 September2015.
  35. ^"National Bolshevik Beness Aijo accused of taking part in armed conflict in Ukraine".Baltic News Network.8 May 2019.Retrieved22 August2019.
  36. ^Kyt, Andry (11 February 2020)."Black Lenin from DNI detained in Russia".Hand of Moscow.Retrieved12 February2020.[permanent dead link]
  37. ^"Latvia to request Russia to hand over detained National-Bolshevik Beness Aijo".Baltic News Network.12 February 2020.Retrieved21 February2020.
  38. ^"Latvia to seek extradition of oddball radical Beness Aijo".Public Broadcasting of Latvia.14 February 2020.Retrieved21 February2020.
  39. ^"National Bolshevik Beness Aijo asks Putin to grant him political asylum".The Baltic Times.14 February 2020.Retrieved21 February2020.
  40. ^"Russian police free 'Black Lenin' – media".Ukrainian Independent Information Agency.13 February 2020.Retrieved27 September2020.
  41. ^abPavlyuk, Oleg (17 May 2021).""Черного Ленина", который воевал на стороне "ДНР" и "ЛНР", в Латвии заочно приговорили к двум с половиной годам тюрьмы ".Hromadske(in Russian).Retrieved11 October2022.
  42. ^"Трое погибших коммунистов, членов КПРФ на СВО в Украине, Или Ходаковский он-лайн".Communist Party of the Russian Federation(in Russian). 14 September 2022.Retrieved11 October2022.
  43. ^"Beness Aijo has become a citizen of Russia. PMLP will assess the revocation of his Latvian citizenship".LA.LV(in Latvian).Retrieved1 December2022.
  44. ^"'National Bolshevik' Beness Aijo stripped of Latvian citizenship ".Public Broadcasting of Latvia.6 February 2023.Retrieved6 February2023.
  45. ^"National Bolshevik Aijo to lose Latvian citizenship".The Baltic Times.6 February 2023.Retrieved6 February2023.

External links[edit]

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