Anatoly Shariy (@anatoliisharii) responded to our investigation. He maintains that he had received the Bezler files from an anonymous source & stated “I don't care about the source, I gave a more complete record than the one that was published by the SBU” bellingcat.com/news/2020/10/1…
Shariy also wrote that he received the full recording of the Geranin conversation, but left out the part about the shelling of Rozivka because he believed it was “insignificant”.
He subsequently shared a video of him playing the full recording on his computer which revealed that his file was the same size and carried the same filename as the one that Bezler emailed to a high ranking GRU official and to a Russian lawyer from the law firm Ivanyan & Partners
The video shared by @anatoliisharii with the same title and file size as the one sent to Bezler by the JIT and then sent by Bezler to a high ranking GRU official and Russian lawyers can be seen here:
In our new MH17 article, we revisit the recordings with Russian DNR commander Igor Bezler that previously linked him to the MH17 downing. We examined new unpublished intercepts, Bezler’s unpublished testimony, and new information introduced at the trial. bellingcat.com/news/2020/10/1…
The Dutch prosecution had revealed new details about the so-called “birdie conversation” in which Bezler subordinate Stelmakh informs Bezler that it was observed how a birdie (a plane) flew in his direction shortly before the MH17 downing. MH17 flew on a similar path.
It turns out that birdie conversation was recorded just short of two minutes before the MH17 downing, which has cast doubt on the theory that it concerned MH17 or contributed to the downing–reasons why Bezler has not been indicted.
We've just published a new long-form investigation by @kooleksiy detailing how American religious conservative groups have attempted to restrict the expansion of rights for the LGBT community in Ukraine: bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-eu…
Our findings suggest that Steve Weber, longtime head of the Ukrainian branch of the US Christian Broadcasting Network, initiated the creation of a “pro-family” umbrella organisation whose members run nationwide anti-LGBT campaigns and oppose anti-discriminatory changes to laws.
Public records in Ukraine link Steve Weber to American veteran pastor turned lobbyist Dale Armstrong who in 2018 was involved in an effort to oust US Ambassador Yovanovitch. buzzfeednews.com/article/christ…
Earlier this month, we worked with @LHreports, @SkyNews and @Guardian to show that US police had used UK-made anti-riot gear to harm journalists and forcefully subdue protesters at #BLM protests.
@LHreports@SkyNews@guardian Over the summer, the UK government stated that it reviewed potential uses of British-made anti-riot equipment at BLM protests in the US.
@LHreports@SkyNews@guardian This review found “no evidence” that UK exported equipment was used. However, it left open the “possibility” UK products could have been in the hands of US police given the wide number of end users for such products in the country
How have UK-made sniper rifles ended up in Yemen, Syria and Ukraine?
This investigation, in conjunction with @LHreports@SkyNews and @guardian, sought to trace the journey of one brand of British-made weapons from license, to export to deployment.
@LHreports@SkyNews@guardian The UK states it has one of the most comprehensive arms export control regimes in the world.
It also has rules and commitments which include taking caution in granting licenses for sale to countries where human rights abuses have been established.
@LHreports@SkyNews@guardian But we found British-made sniper rifles being used by Turkish troops in Syria as well as Saudi forces in Yemen.
Both nations have been criticised by human rights groups for some of their actions in these countries.
As the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh rages, credible reports have been published about foreign fighters on the battlefield. Accordingly, some observers wonder whether Russian mercenaries have also found their way to the South Caucasus. bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-eu…
In the spotlight is PMC Wagner, Russia's largest private military contractor which has already made its mark on several foreign conflicts. And now, a Telegram channel linked to Wagner has been dropping hints that its mercenaries are now in Nagorno-Karabakh.
But geolocation of some of the channel's photos has revealed that they were not actually taken in the South Caucasus — but in Syria. These hints appear to have been a hoax; there is no evidence that Wagner has boots on the ground in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Please only sign up for one, picking the language you are most comfortable with!
The Russian-language training is tentatively with @aiganysh_aidar and likely be next week as well. We'll share links to all three webinars once we get them up and running.
Only 30 people per event.
The content of each webinar -- focusing on basic verification methodologies and geolocation around photos/videos coming out of the conflict -- will be the same, just in different languages.