Freikorps – a radical right-wing organization from Kharkiv that attacks the LGBT+ community

Freikorps
Year Founded: 2018 Locations: Kharkiv

Related People

Georgii Tarasenko
Bohdan Voitsekhovskyi
Glib Derevianko
Volodymyr Sakharchuk

Related Groups

The leader of the organization is Georgii Tarasenko. Other members include Bohdan Voitsekhovskyi, Glib Derevianko, and Volodymyr Sakharchuk. It is a radical right-wing initiative that is close to the National Corps political party and uses force against the LGBT+ community. NGO Freikorps Military Patriotic Organization was registered in 2018 at the address: 18 Rymarska Street, Kharkiv, where the office of the far-right organization Patriot of Ukraine, founded by Andrii Biletskyi, was located previously.

History

On February 13, 2018, in Kharkiv, the organization disrupted a lecture by Hanna Sharyhina at the Ye bookstore about LGBT+ movement in Ukraine and the world. The right-wing radicals did not use direct physical violence, but they went into the bookstore event area, shouted over the lecturer, and announced that the lecture was coming to an end. Patrol police officers who arrived on call did not help maintain order.“Підриває наш бойовий дух” — у Харкові ультраправі зірвали лекцію про ЛГБТ-рух” [It poisons our fighting spirit” —  the far right disrupted a lecture on the LGBT movement in Kharkiv], Zmina, February 14, 2018, https://zmina.info/news/u_kharkovi_cherez_propagandu_gomoseksualizmu_zirvali_lekcijiu_pro_lgbtruh-2. On February 16, the lecture was repeated at the Nakipelo media center, and its organizers did not allow right-wing radicals into the event area. In March of the same year, the same lecture was also given in Kyiv without hindrance.

On May 6, 2018, the organization demolished a monument to the Soviet WWII General Georgy Zhukov in Kharkiv.Yanyna Vatsiak, “У Харкові радикали повалили пам'ятник маршалу Жукову” [Radicals tore down a monument to Marshal Zhukov in Kharkiv], Ukrainian News, May 6, 2018,  https://ukranews.com/ua/news/561704-u-kharkovi-radykaly-povalyly-pam-yatnyk-marshalu-zhukovu On June 2, 2019, Freikorps, together with other organizations (National Corps, Right Sector, Tradition and Order, and the Anti-Corruption Bloc of ATO Participants), toppled the recently restored bust of Zhukov again.“У Харкові повалили бюст Жукова, Кернес обіцяє відновити” [A bust of Zhukov was torn down in Kharkiv, Kernes promises to restore], BBC News Ukraine, June 2, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/news-48490213. On November 20, 2019, the organization posted that the restored monument to Zhukov was covered in paint.“У Харкові пам’ятник Жукову облили фарбою. У поліцію ніхто не скаржився” [In Kharkiv, Zhukov monument was doused with paint. No one complained to the police], Glavkom, November 20, 2019, https://glavcom.ua/news/u-harkovi-pamyatnik-zhukovu-oblili-farboyu-u-policiyu-nihto-ne-skarzhivsya--641170.html. On November 7, 2019, in Kyiv, Freikorps members painted inscriptions on monuments to Soviet military commander Vatutin and the January Uprising.Freikorps, Telegram publication, November 7, 2019, https://t.me/freikorps_org/727.

Coming Out Fest representatives of the organization surrounded the building where the concert was due to take place, thus preventing it from taking place.Nakipelo, “Конфликт на фестивале ЛГБТ+ сообщества” [Conflict at the LGBT + community festival], Facebook video, October 12, 2018, https://www.facebook.com/nakipelovo/videos/1983779165257056

On May 17, 2019, members of Freikorps and some other groups tried to disrupt a private event in support of the Equality March during KharkivPride, organized by the Kharkiv Women's Association Sfera, National Democratic Institute, and Freedom House.“У Харкові ультраправі намагалися зірвати закритий ЛГБТ-захід” [The far right attempted to disrupt a closed LGBT event in Kharkiv], Zmina, May 21, 2019,  https://zmina.info/news/u_kharkovi_ultrapravi_namagalis_zirvati_zakritij_lgbtzahid Eventually, the organizers were able to hold an event following police intervention.

On June 23, 2019, in Kyiv, together with a number of other right-wing organizations, Freikorps took part in an attempt to disrupt the Equality March.Freikorps, Telegram publication, July 23, 2019, https://t.me/freikorps_org/727

On September 12, 2019, the organization tried to disrupt a lecture byjournalist and former politician Oles Doniy titled "Tolerance as a component of the national Ukrainian idea.”“Радикали облили зеленкою голову "Останньої барикади" через лекцію” [Radicals poured green dye on the head of the "Last Barricade" because of a lecture], Ukraiinska Pravda, September 13, 2019, https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2019/09/13/7226151 The lecture took place despite the fact that before it began, the far-right radicals had thrown the toxic ”brilliant green” liquid at the lecturer and damaged his eye.Oles Doniy, Facebook publication, September 12, 2019, https://www.facebook.com/oles.doniy/posts/2854810024547311

On September 15, 2019, the organization together with Tradition and Order, another right-wing group, tried to disrupt the Equality March which took place as part of Kharkiv Pride. They clashed with the police near Freikorps’ office.Marya Varva, Facebook publication, September 12 2019, https://www.facebook.com/marya.umanskaya/posts/2707872509246045 Two law enforcement officers were reportedly injured, and 17 people were detained.“Троим участникам столкновения с полицией в Харькове вручили подозрения” [Suspicions handed over to three participants of the clash with police in Kharkiv], Interfaks,  September 16, 2019, https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/613524.html. Also after the March, Freikorps members tried to catch the participants of the march. One of the followed March participants was wounded in the head; two more were taken away by ambulance.Andrii Suhrakov, “У Харкові після Маршу рівності затримали радикалів. Один з них забризкав поліцейського сльозогінним газом” [Radicals were detained in Kharkiv after the Equality March. One of them sprayed the policeman with tear gas], Babel, September 15, 2019, https://thebabel.com.ua/news/35734-u-harkovi-pislya-marshu-rivnosti-zatrimali-radikaliv-odin-z-nih-zabrizkav-lice-policeyskogo-slozoginnim-gazom

According to the organization’s information channels, it also conducts knife fighting trainings,Freikorps, Telegram publication, May 5, 2019, https://t.me/freikorps_org/239. uses force to combat drug trafficking,Freikorps, Telegram publication, July 2, 2019, https://t.me/freikorps_org/403 and intervenes in commercial conflicts.Freikorps, Telegram publication, August 14, 2019, https://t.me/freikorps_org/485 Additionally, Freikorps’ representatives periodically hold lessons in Kharkiv’s schools, using it as an opportunity for promotion of the organization’s activities.Sofiia Tsvetkova, “У Харкові відсторонили директора школи, в якій провели урок патріотичного виховання” [The principal of the Kharkiv school where the patriotic education lesson was held has been fired], Suspilne, March 3, 2021, https://suspilne.media/110273-u-harkovi-vidstoronili-direktora-skoli-v-akij-proveli-urok-patrioticnogo-vihovanna

On June 10, 2020, Freikorps leader Georgii Tarasenko became a member of the Coordination Council for National-Patriotic Education under the Kharkiv Regional State Administration.Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Order №329, June 10, 2019, https://kharkivoda.gov.ua/content/documents/962/96165/files/200610-01-11-zagal-329%20rozp.pdf?sv

On June 10, 2020, Freikorps leader Georgii Tarasenko became a member of the Coordination Council for National-Patriotic Education under the Kharkiv Regional State Administration.Kharkiv Regional State Administration, Order №329, June 10, 2019, https://kharkivoda.gov.ua/content/documents/962/96165/files/200610-01-11-zagal-329%20rozp.pdf?sv

Freikorps member Bohdan Voitsekhovskyi is also the founder of a project to popularize the possession of civilian firearms.“"GUN PRIDE" -  ЄДИНИЙ НОРМАЛЬНИЙ ПРАЙД” ["GUN PRIDE" – the ONLY NORMAL PRIDE], Conservator Journal, April 8, 2020, https://conservatorjournal.com/gunpride

Ideology

Freikorps derives its name from the "common name of voluntary paramilitary formations which existed in European countries between the 18th and 20th centuries." It avoids mentioning that the most famous formation with this name tried to overthrow the constitutional order of the Weimar Republic. The organization declares itself a "national conservative movement" that advocates for the unrestricted right to bear arms. According to the organization’s manifesto, Christianity "should count on state support and protection" and the organization "opposes ‘Islamization’ and the left-liberal tendencies that are spreading in modern Europe."Freikorps, Telegram publication, November 7, 2018, https://t.me/freikorps_org/3