Andriy Biletsky
{{Short description|Ukrainian politician}}
{{family name hatnote|Yevheniiovych|Biletsky|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Andriy Biletsky
| native_name = {{Nobold|Андрій Білецький}}
| native_name_lang = uk
| image = File:Andrii Biletskyi.jpg
| caption = Biletsky in 2025
| office = Leader of National Corps
| term_start = 14 October 2016
| term_end =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| office1 = People's Deputy of Ukraine
| term_start1 = 27 November 2014
| term_end1 = 24 July 2019
| predecessor1 = {{ill|Oleksandr Bryhynets|uk|Бригинець Олександр Михайлович}}
| successor1 = Maryana Bezuhla
| constituency1 = Kyiv, No. 217
| office2 = Commander of the Azov Battalion
| term_start2 = 5 May 2014
| term_end2 = October 2014
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 = Ihor Mykhaylenko
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|8|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kharkiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
| party = Tryzub (2002–2005)
Patriot of Ukraine (2005–2008)
Social-National Assembly (2008–2016)
National Corps (since 2016)
| spouse = {{marriage|Yulia Biletska
|2003|2016|end=divorced}}{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7125249/ The former leader of "Azov" Beletsky declared only salary and $ 5,000], Ukrayinska Pravda (30 October 2016)
| children = 1 son
| blank1 = Religion
| data1 = Rodnovery
| citizenship = Ukrainian
| alma_mater = University of Kharkiv
| website =
| signature =
| allegiance = {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Ukraine
| branch = 20px Militsiya (Special Tasks Patrol Police) (2014)
| serviceyears = 2014–2016
2022–present
| battles = {{tree list}}
- Russo-Ukrainian War
- War in Donbas
- Battle of Mariupol
- Offensive on Mariupol
- Battle of Marinka
- Shyrokyne standoff
- Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Eastern Ukraine campaign
- Battle of Bakhmut
- Battle of Kurakhove
{{tree list/end}}
| rank = 15px Lieutenant colonel of police{{citation|url=http://nackor.org/en/andrey-bileckiy|title=Andriy Biletsky|date=8 December 2015|work=Національний Кореспондент [National Correspondent] nackor.org}}{{citation|url=https://www.unian.info/society/2372643-ukraines-interior-ministry-elaborates-on-duties-of-newly-created-national-militia-units-video.html|title=Ukraine's Interior Ministry elaborates on duties of newly created 'national militia units' (Video)|work=Unian|date=30 January 2018}}
15px Colonel of Ukrainian Ground Forces{{citation|url=https://www.unian.ua/war/andriy-bileckiy-zima-ne-zavadit-rosiyanam-nastupati-natomist-mozhe-zavaditi-nam-oboronyatis-12828507.html|title=Andriy Biletsky: Winter will not prevent the Russians from attacking, but it may prevent us from defending|work=Unian|date=22 November 2024}}
| mawards = {{Order for Courage, 3rd class (Ukraine)}}Decree of the President of Ukraine from 2 серпня 2014 year № 631/2014 [http://www.president.gov.ua/documents/6312014-17512 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України»] {{in lang|uk}}
25 Years of Independence of Ukraine Medal
| unit = {{flagicon image|Emblem of the Azov Battalion.svg|border=|size=17px}} Azov Battalion (2014–2016)
{{flagicon image|3ошбр logo.svg|border=|size=17px}} 3rd Assault Brigade (2022–present)
| commands = Azov Battalion (2014–2016)
Azov Tactical Group (2022–present)
| image_size = 300px
| width = 270px
}}
Andriy Yevheniiovych Biletsky{{efn|Also romanized as Andrii Biletskyi}} ({{langx|uk|Андрій Євгенійович Білецький}} {{IPA|uk|ɐnˈd⁽ʲ⁾r⁽ʲ⁾ij jeu̯ˈɦɛn⁽ʲ⁾ijowɪdʒ biˈlɛtsʲkɪj|}}; born 5 August 1979) is a Ukrainian far-right politician. He is the leader of political party National Corps. He was the first commander of the volunteer militia Azov Battalion, which he founded in 2014, and a co-founder of the nationalist movement Social-National Assembly.Multiple sources:
- {{cite journal|last=Shekhovstov|first=Anton|title=The Creeping Resurgence of the Ukrainian Radical Right? The Case of the Freedom Party.|journal=Europe-Asia Studies|date=March 2011|volume=63|issue=2|pages=203–228|doi=10.1080/09668136.2011.547696|s2cid=155079439}}
- {{cite book|last=Shekhovstov|first=Anton|title=Right-Wing Populism in Europe|date=2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|editor=Wodak|chapter=17: Para-Militarism to Radical Right-Wing Populism: The Rise of the Ukrainian Far-Right Party Svoboda.}}
- Anton Shekhovtsov, Andreas Umland [https://www.academia.edu/7615988/Ukraines_Radical_Right Ukraine's Radical Right] // Journal of Democracy. Volume 25, Number 3 July 2014
- {{cite book|last=Shekhovtsov|first=Anton|title=Right-Wing Populism in Europe|year=2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|isbn=978-1780932453|pages=249–263|editor=Ruth Wodak|chapter=17: From Para-Militarism to Radical Right-Wing Populism: The Rise of the Ukrainian Far-Right Party Svoboda}}
- {{cite journal|last=Ishchenko|first=Volodymyr|title=Fighting Fences vs Fighting Monuments: Politics of Memory and Protest Mobilization in Ukraine|journal=Debatte: Journal of Contemporary Central and Eastern Europe|date=2011|volume=19|issue=1–2|pages=369–395|doi=10.1080/0965156X.2011.611680|s2cid=145492425}}
- {{cite book|last=Ghosh|first=Mridula|title=The Extreme Right in Ukraine's Political Mainstream: What Lies Ahead?|date=2013|publisher=Friedrich Ebert Stiftung|editor=Ralf Melzer }} From 2014 until 2019, Biletsky was a People's Deputy of Ukraine.2022: "'Don't confuse patriotism and Nazism': Ukraine's Azov forces face scrutiny Nationalist regiment with neo-Nazi roots has been instrumental in the resistance to Russia's invasion" https://www.ft.com/content/7191ec30-9677-423d-873c-e72b64725c2d
Biography
Andriy Biletsky was born in 1979 in Kharkiv, Soviet Union. Biletsky's father Yevheniy Mykhailovych Biletsky hailed from an old Cossack family that founded the village of Krasnopavlivka in Kharkiv Oblast, while Biletsky's mother Olena Anatoliyivna Biletsky (née Lukashevych) descended from a noble family from Zhytomyr region, to which belong the Decembrist {{ill|Vasiliy Lukashevich|uk|Лукашевич Василь Лукич}} who founded the {{ill|Little-Russian Secret Society|uk|Малоросійське таємне товариство}}.{{cite web
| title = Андрій Білецький
| url = https://nackor.org/ukr/andrey-bileckiy
| date = 8 December 2015
| access-date = 25 April 2022
| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20220127124642/https://nackor.org/ukr/andrey-bileckiy
| archivedate = 27 January 2022
| work = Національний Кореспондент [National Correspondent] nackor.org
| language = uk
| trans-title = Andriy Biletsky}}
In his youth, Biletsky practiced several types of martial arts and boxing. Unlike many Ukrainians, he declined to join the Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization. Biletsky, along with senior schoolmates, raised the Ukrainian flag over his school.Bereza, A. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150119152837/http://nvua.net/publications/Andrey-Bileckiy-Kak-voyna-prevratila-polituznika-v-komandira-batalona-Azov--17031.html Andriy Biletsky. How war changed a political prisoner into a commander of the Azov Battalion]. "Novoye Vremya". 22 October 2014 His major patriotic influence in his youth was his father's gift of a book prohibited in the Soviet Union, History of Ukraine for Children by {{ill|Anton Lototsky|uk|Лотоцький Антін Львович}}. During the Kosovo War, Biletsky and a group of other Ukrainians attempted to join the Yugoslav Army as volunteers to fight against the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), but the war ended before they arrived at the front.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-05-30 |title=Ukrajinci se na Košarama borili na srpskoj strani |url=https://www.balkansec.net/post/ukrajinci-se-na-košarama-borili-na-srpskoj-strani |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Balkanska bezbednosna mreža |language=}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-31 |title=Ukrajinci se na Košarama borili na srpskoj strani, i komandant Azova se prijavio |url=https://rs.n1info.com/vesti/ukrajinci-se-na-kosarama-borili-na-srpskoj-strani-i-komandant-azova-se-prijavio/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=N1 |language=sr-RS}}{{Cite web |title=Андрій Білецький: "Наші хлопці – українофіли, а не ксенофоби» |url=https://konkurent.ua/publication/29175/andrij-bileckij-nashi-hlopci-ukrayinofili-a-ne-ksenofobi/ |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=konkurent.ua |language=uk}} In 2001, Biletsky graduated with honors from the History faculty of the University of Kharkiv. His thesis was about the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.{{in lang|uk}} [http://hromadske.ua/posts/my-namahaiemosia-pryity-do-vlady-cherez-vybory-khocha-maiemo-vsiaki-mozhlyvosti-iak-azov-staie-partiieiu "We are trying to come to power through elections, but we have all sorts of possibilities" - as "Azov" becomes party], Hromadske.TV (13 October 2016) The same year Biletsky participated in the Ukraine without Kuchma (UBK) protests, for which he was placed under administrative arrest. The Security Service of Ukraine pressured the university administration to expel Biletsky from the institution.
=Political activism (2002–2013)=
In 2002 Biletsky became a leader of the Kharkiv branch of the political organization Tryzub, and was a member of the Kharkiv section of the Social-National Party of Ukraine (SNPU), but opposed the idea of its transformation into Svoboda.
After the transformation of SNPU into Svoboda and liquidation of the original Patriot of Ukraine, in 2005 Biletsky initiated a revival of the Patriot of Ukraine, independent from any political factions. The new Patriot of Ukraine initially consisted of the Kharkiv branches of UNA-UNSO, Tryzub, and former SNPU. Since 2005, Biletsky also cooperated with the newly established {{ill|Ukrainian Conservative Party|uk|Українська консервативна партія}}.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
In the 2006 Ukrainian parliamentary election, Biletsky unsuccessfully ran for Ukrainian parliament.
=Patriot of Ukraine, Azov Battalion (2014)=
File:Andriy Biletsky interviewed by Ukrainian TV journalist.jpg
During the Euromaidan events, members of the Biletsky's Patriot of Ukraine were among the founders of Right Sector on 28 November 2013. On 24 February 2014, the Ukrainian parliament adopted a decision on the freedom of political prisoners. The next day, Biletsky and other prisoners were completely acquitted of all charges and freed from custody.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
On 12 March 2014, Biletsky became a party leader in special operations for the "Right Sector - East," which included such regions as Poltava, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts. On 5 May 2014, in Berdyansk Biletsky became a founder of the Azov Battalion (as a territorial battalion of patrol service), and its first commander. The battalion was initially composed of members of the Patriot of Ukraine, Social-National Assembly, football fans (notably Dynamo Kyiv supporters) and the AutoMaidan movement. The paramilitary unit became known as the Little black men as an opposition to the Russian special operations "Little green men". It would be transformed from a militia into a regular regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine on 20 November 2014.
On 13 June 2014, Biletsky led his detachment in the successful First Battle of Mariupol. According to British military reporter Askold Krushelnycky, "Biletsky was cool in the evaluation of actions and giving orders calmly and, in my opinion, logically". On 2 August 2014, Biletsky, holding a rank of Major of Militsiya,{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} was awarded the Order For Courage (III degree){{Cite web |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/6312014-17512 |title=УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №631/2014 |website=president.gov.ua}}{{Primary source inline|date=March 2022}} and promoted to lieutenant colonel of police on 15 August 2014.
On 10 September 2014, Biletsky was admitted to the military council of the People's Front, yet did not become a member of the party. On 27 September 2014, he ran as an independent candidate in the 217th electoral district (Kyiv) for the 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election and won by receiving 31,445 votes (33.75%). In parliament, he joined the inter-factional group UKROP.[http://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/3529272-minuist-zareiestruvav-partiui-kolomoiskoho Justice Ministry registered the party Kolomoisky], Korrespondent.net (18 June 2015) In October 2014, {{ill|Ihor Mykhailenko|uk|Михайленко Ігор Володимирович}} replaced Biletsky as commander of Azov Battalion.{{citation needed|date=March 2022}}
In an interview to LB.ua (Left Bank) given on 10 December 2014, Biletsky announced that the Patriot of Ukraine suspended its activities as a political organization due to the war, and would be absorbed primarily into the Azov Battalion.Shvets, Ye. [https://web.archive.org/web/20150119145140/http://lb.ua/news/2014/12/10/288683_andrey_biletskiy_polovina_azova.html Andriy Biletsky: Half of Azov speaks the Russian language. But they die and kill for Ukraine]. LB.ua. 10 December 2014 In the same interview Biletsky said that the logo of the battalion is different from the German Wolfsangel and symbolizes the Ukrainian national idea.
=Elected official (2016–2019)=
On October 14, 2016, Biletsky was voted as the leader of the newly formed party National Corps.{{cite news|url=https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/nationalist-azov-battalion-starts-political-party.html|work = Kyiv Post|date=15 October 2016|title=Nationalist Azov Battalion starts political party|first1=Bermet |last1=Talant}}
In October 2016 Biletsky officially left the Ukrainian National Guard because Ukrainian elected officials were barred from military service, but he vowed to continue his military career "without titles".{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/articles/id_7123983/ Andriy Biletsky: Avakov - man system, but the system I think is negative], Ukrayinska Pravda (18 October 2016)
File:Andriy Biletsky March.jpg
During his first three years of work in Verkhovna Rada Biletsky participated only in 2% of votes,{{Cite web | url = https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2017/11/14/7162071/ | title = 43 депутата почти никогда не голосовали в Раде - КИУ | date = 14 November 2017 | publisher = Ukrayinska Pravda | access-date = 24 September 2018 | language = ru}} He took part in only 229 votings, taking the fifth place in the rating of deputies with the fewest votings.{{Cite web | url = http://www.cvu.org.ua/nodes/view/type:news/slug:kvu-sklav-reitynh-top-10-deputativ-iaki-ihnoruiut-holosuvannia-u-vr | script-title=uk:КВУ склав рейтинг ТОП-10 депутатів, які ігнорують голосування у ВР | date = 15 November 2017 | publisher = Committee of Voters of Ukraine | access-date = 18 October 2018 | language = uk}} He missed 328 sittings of the Ukrainian parliament.{{Cite web | url = https://24tv.ua/ru/opublikovan_rejting_naibolshih_deputatov_progulshhikov_verhovnoj_rady_za_3_goda_n888332 | script-title=ru:Опубликован рейтинг наибольших депутатов-прогульщиков Верховной Рады за 3 года | date = 11 November 2017 | publisher = 24 Channel | access-date = 18 October 2018 | language = ru}}{{Cite web | url = https://ru.tsn.ua/politika/yarosh-bileckiy-dobkin-top-10-progulschikov-rady-za-tri-goda-1036235.html | script-title=ru:Ярош, Билецкий, Добкин: Топ-10 прогульщиков Рады за три года | date = 15 November 2017 | publisher = TSN / 1+1 | access-date = 18 October 2018 | language = ru}} He missed all sittings of the Verkhovna Rada in 2016 and did not appear in parliament as of March 2017.{{Cite web | url = https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2016/12/21/7130552/ | script-title=ru:Активисты составили рейтинг прогульщиков и кнопкодавов в Раде | date = 21 December 2016 | publisher = Ukrayinska Pravda | access-date = 22 October 2018 | language = ru}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2017/03/9/7137637/ | title = 5 нардепов пропустили все заседания Рады в 2017 году – КИУ | date = 9 September 2017 | publisher = Ukrayinska Pravda | access-date = 22 October 2018 | language = ru}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.unian.net/politics/1815626-top-5-nardepov-progulschikov-kiu-nazval-familii-izbrannikov-propustivshih-vse-zasedaniya-vr-v-2017-godu.html | script-title=ru:Топ-5 нардепов-прогульщиков: КИУ назвал фамилии избранников, пропустивших все заседания ВР в 2017 году | date = 9 September 2017 | publisher = Ukrainian Independent Information Agency | access-date = 22 October 2018 | language = ru}} According to a research of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, published in August 2017, Biletsky did not write any laws that were adopted in the Verkhovna Rada. With 30 unsuccessful projects, he is in the first place among the deputies who submitted unsuccessful draft laws.{{Cite web | url = https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2017/08/17/7152410/ | title = Более 60 депутатов не стали авторами ни одного принятого закона - КИУ | publisher = Ukrayinska Pravda | date = 17 August 2017 | access-date = 25 October 2018}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/verhovnoy-rade-60-nardepov-sih-por-stali-1502956840.html | title = В Верховной Раде более 60 нардепов до сих пор не стали авторами принятых законов, - КИУ | publisher = RBK Ukraine | date = 17 August 2017 | access-date = 25 October 2018}}{{Cite web | url = http://www.cvu.org.ua/nodes/view/type:news/slug:pivsotni-deputativ-dosi-ne-staly-avtoramy-zhodnoho-pryiniatoho-zakonu | title = Півсотні депутатів досі не стали авторами жодного прийнятого закону | publisher = Committee of Voters of Ukraine | date = 16 August 2017 | access-date = 25 October 2018}}
In the 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election he was placed 2nd on the joined list of Svoboda with the far-right National Corps, the Governmental Initiative of Yarosh and Right Sector.{{Cite web|url=https://m.glavcom.ua/country/politics/yarosh-tyagnibok-bileckiy-taki-sformuvali-jediniy-spisok-na-vibori-600508.html|title = Ярош, Тягнибок та Білецький таки сформували єдиний список на вибори| date=9 June 2019 }} His party did not win enough votes to clear the 5% election threshold and thus did not gain any parliamentary seats.[https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-elections/2748306-cec-counts-100-percent-of-vote-in-ukraines-parliamentary-elections.html CEC counts 100 percent of vote in Ukraine's parliamentary elections], Ukrinform (26 July 2019)
=2020–present=
In 2023 Biletsky and Azov veterans formed the 3rd Assault Brigade. Biletsky was the commander of the "Azov Tactical Group" at first, which is part of the brigade, and soon afterwards became a full commander of the brigade itself.{{Cite web |title=Андрій Білецький: Росіяни стерли свої кадрові частини в Україні в нуль |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2023/10/17/7424397/ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=Українська правда |language=uk}} The brigade has appeared regularly in the news due to its performance in combat, partly founded in successful recruiting and training.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-17 |title=Новий алгоритм рекрутингу до ЗСУ: як записатися і які бригади найпопулярніші |url=https://tsn.ua/exclusive/noviy-algoritm-rekrutingu-do-zsu-yak-zapisatisya-i-yaki-brigadi-naypopulyarnishi-2537458.html |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=ТСН.ua |language=uk}} The brigade presents many details of its activities on its popular YouTube channel.{{Cite web |title=«У нас максимум результативності та мінімум втрат», — бійці 3-ї ОШБр про переваги служби у своїй бригаді - 20 хвилин |url=https://vn.20minut.ua/Podii/u-nas-maksimum-rezultativnosti-ta-minimum-vtrat--biytsi-3-yi-oshbr-pro-11920160.html |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=vn.20minut.ua |language=uk}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-26 |title=Білецький: Втрати 3 штурмової біля Авдіївки за два місяці менші за російські у більш ніж 10 разів |url=https://news.liga.net/ua/politics/news/biletskyi-vtraty-3-shturmovoi-bilia-avdivky-za-dva-misiatsi-menshi-za-rosiiski-u-bilsh-nizh-10-raziv |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=LIGA |language=uk}}{{Cite web |title=3-тя окрема штурмова бригада - YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/@ab3army?si=eSW9enPpMbRktni_ |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=www.youtube.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/ukrainian-military-reveals-garbage-ammunition-100100236.html |author=New Voice of Ukraine|title=Ukrainian military reveals garbage and ammunition left by invaders during retreat from Bakhmut positions |website=news.yahoo.com|date=2023-05-12}}
Political views
In 2010, Biletsky reportedly said that the Ukrainian nation's mission is to "lead the white races of the world in a final crusade...against Semite-led Untermenschen".{{cite news |author1=Tom Parfitt |title=Ukraine crisis: the neo-Nazi brigade fighting pro-Russian separatists |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11025137/Ukraine-crisis-the-neo-Nazi-brigade-fighting-pro-Russian-separatists.html |access-date=28 September 2023 |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928025300/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/11025137/Ukraine-crisis-the-neo-Nazi-brigade-fighting-pro-Russian-separatists.html |archive-date=28 September 2023}}{{cite book|author=Jerry Harris|title=Global Capitalism and the Crisis of Democracy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tYpXDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT93|year=2016|publisher=SCB Distributors |isbn=978-0-9972870-4-2|pages=93}}{{cite news| title=Ukraine's National Militia: 'We're not neo-Nazis, we just want to make our country better' | newspaper=the Guardian | date=2018-03-13 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/13/ukraine-far-right-national-militia-takes-law-into-own-hands-neo-nazi-links | ref={{sfnref | the Guardian | 2018}} | access-date=2020-07-31}} Biletsky denied ever making such remarks, despite clear evidence and widespread reporting by media.{{Cite web | url = https://khpg.org/en/1443479556 |title=Anti-Semitism is no vote-winner even for Ukraine's far-right |website= Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group | date = 2 October 2015 | access-date = | language = en}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy910FG46C4 |title=Inside A White Supremacist Militia in Ukraine |date=2021-01-08 |last=TIME |access-date=2025-05-31 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |last=UKRAINE |first=SIMON SHUSTER/KYIV |last2=PERRIGO/LONDON |first2=BILLY |date=2021-01-07 |title=How a White-Supremacist Militia Uses Facebook to Radicalize and Train New Members |url=https://time.com/5926750/azov-far-right-movement-facebook/ |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=TIME |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-03-05 |title=Opinion {{!}} Ukraine's Nazi problem is real, even if Putin's 'denazification' claim isn't |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/ukraine-has-nazi-problem-vladimir-putin-s-denazification-claim-war-ncna1290946 |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Golinkin |first=Lev |date=2023-06-13 |title=The Western Media Is Whitewashing the Azov Battalion |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/world/azov-battalion-neo-nazi/ |access-date=2025-05-31 |language=en-US |issn=0027-8378}}
In a 2007 article, Biletsky stated that "Ukrainian racial social-nationalism" was the ideology of Patriot of Ukraine.{{Cite web |url=https://www.helsinki.org.ua/en/articles/open-letter-from-khpg-regarding-the-organization-patriot-of-ukraine/ |title=Open Letter from KHPG regarding the organization "Patriot of Ukraine" |website=helsinki.org.ua}} During his speech at a 2009 general meeting of the party he said: "How then can we describe our enemy? The general regime in power are oligarchs. Is there anything they have in common? Yes, one thing in common – they are Jews, or their true bosses – Jews – are behind them. Out of one hundred published richest people in Ukraine 92 are Jews, and some others of Tatar origin".{{Cite web |url=https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/9/8/39169.pdf |title=Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union |website=OSCE}}
Until 2011 Biletsky was in favour of forming a confederation between Russia and Ukraine, with Kyiv as its capital, according to BBC News Ukrainian.{{Cite news |title=Національний корпус в обличчях: хто ці люди і звідки |language=uk |work=BBC News Україна |url=https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-47527045 |access-date=}}
In 2013 he wrote a brochure called The Word of the White Leader («Слово білого вождя»).{{Cite news |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/28512571.html |title=Хто нацист? Особливості українських праворадикалів |date=2017-05-28 |newspaper=Радіо Свобода|last1=Штогрін |first1=Ірина }} The BBC in 2014{{Cite news |date=24 October 2014 |title=Ukraine vote could push the country into chaos |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29755967 |quote=Andrei Biletsky, a white supremacist commander}} and The Moscow Times{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Josh |date=20 July 2015 |title=Ukraine Should Beware the Azov Extremists |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2015/07/20/ukraine-should-beware-the-azov-extremists-a48402 |website=The Moscow Times}} in 2015 described Biletsky as a white supremacist. In 2014, he was accused of being an "actual neo-Nazi" by sociologist {{ill|Volodymyr Ishchenko|uk|Іщенко Володимир Олександрович}} because of his involvement in Patriot of Ukraine and Azov.{{Cite web |date=2014-11-13 |title=Ukraine has ignored the far right for too long – it must wake up to the danger {{!}} Volodymyr Ishchenko |url=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/13/ukraine-far-right-fascism-mps |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}
In 2018, The Guardian reported that Biletsky "has toned down his rhetoric in recent years". Freedom House initiative Reporting Radicalism reported {{As of|2022|lc=y}} that he has not publicly made racist remarks since 2014, but he does "invoke anti-LGBT+ rhetoric frequently".{{Cite web |title=Andrii Biletskyi - Head of the National Corps party - Reporting Radicalism in Ukraine |url=https://reportingradicalism.org/en/dossiers/people/andrii-biletskyi-head-of-the-national-corps-party |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=reportingradicalism.org}} Umland and Fedorenko wrote in 2021 that he still publicly objects to multiculturalism, but has stated "to be a Ukrainian nationalist today is to believe in values, not racial prejudice", and announced that his party does not use ethnicity to define who can, or cannot, be part of the nation Ukraine.
In 2022, however, The Independent still described him as a white supremacist, while The Daily Telegraph reported that he was known as the White Leader.{{cite news |last1=Sommerlad |first1=Joe |title=Who are Ukraine's neo-Nazi Azov Battalion? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-azov-battalion-mariupol-neo-nazis-b2043022.html |access-date=5 May 2022 |work=The Independent |date=24 March 2022 |quote=It was organised by Andriy Biletsky, a white supermacist former football hooligan}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/03/18/inside-azov-neo-nazi-brigade-killing-russian-generals-playing/ |title=Inside Azov, the far-Right brigade killing Russian generals and playing a PR game in the Ukraine war |newspaper=The Telegraph|date=18 March 2022 |quote=Mr Biletsky, also known as the White Leader}} According to a 2021 paper by political scientists Umland and Fedorenko, he had been known as white leader before 2014, but subsequently said that "if someone called me white leader face-to-face, [that person] would have been beaten".{{Cite journal |last1=Fedorenko |first1=Kostiantyn |last2=Umland |first2=Andreas |date=10 August 2021 |title=Between Frontline and Parliament: Ukrainian Political Parties and Irregular Armed Groups in 2014–2019 |journal=Nationalities Papers |language=en |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=237–261 |doi=10.1017/nps.2021.20 |issn=0090-5992|doi-access=free }}
Earnings
According to the electronic declaration, in 2015, Biletsky received ₴ 58,990 (US$2,087) as salary in the Verkhovna Rada. He had ₴ 250,000 (US$8,846) in cash.{{Cite web | url = https://public.nazk.gov.ua/declaration/b1606fc3-bca6-4a3a-bd4d-81930efe46cb | script-title=uk:Білецький Андрій Євгенійович. Декларація (щорічна) | publisher = Unified State Register of Declarations | language = uk | date = 29 October 2016 | access-date = 11 February 2019}}{{Cite web |date=30 October 2016 |title=Страна |script-title=ru:Экс-командир полка «Азов» Андрей Билецкий заполнил самую маленькую декларацию |url=https://ctrana.news/news/38242-eks-komandir-polka-azov-andrej-bileckij-zapolnil-samuyu-malenkuyu-deklaraciyu-na-segodnya.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614121939/https://strana.ua/news/38242-eks-komandir-polka-azov-andrej-bileckij-zapolnil-samuyu-malenkuyu-deklaraciyu-na-segodnya.html |archive-date=14 June 2018 |access-date=11 February 2019 |publisher=Strana.ua |language=ru}} The declaration also indicated an apartment in Kyiv (see below), which was recorded as belonging to Biletsky's spouse Yuliya.{{Cite web |date=23 May 2016 |title=Страна |script-title=ru:Семья командира «Азова» Билецкого во время боев за аэропорт купила квартиру в киевском новострое |url=https://ctrana.news/articles/rassledovania/14422-nardep-bileckij-vo-vremya-debalcevskogo-kotla-kupil-na-zhenu-kvartiru-v-kievskom-novostroe.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614121443/https://strana.ua/articles/rassledovania/14422-nardep-bileckij-vo-vremya-debalcevskogo-kotla-kupil-na-zhenu-kvartiru-v-kievskom-novostroe.html |archive-date=14 June 2018 |access-date=11 February 2019 |publisher=Strana.ua |language=ru}}{{Cite web | url = https://24tv.ua/ru/jekskombat_azova_beleckij_udivil_svoej_deklaraciej_n743201 | script-title=ru:Экс-комбат «Азова» Белецкий удивил своей декларацией | publisher = Channel 24 | language = ru | date = 30 October 2016 | access-date = 11 February 2019}} In the declaration for 2016, Biletsky indicated 115,652 hryvnia (US$4,423) as deputy salary, and ₴ 250,000 in cash.{{Cite web | url = https://public.nazk.gov.ua/declaration/eaab10e1-4110-4e55-ba55-441f0892f6ae | script-title=uk:Білецький Андрій Євгенійович. Виправлена декларація (щорічна) | publisher = Unified State Register of Declarations | language = uk | date = 23 February 2018 | access-date = 11 February 2019}}
Personal life
From 2003 to 2016, Andriy Biletsky was married to Yuliya Oleksandrivna Biletska (née Brusenko); their son was born in 2007. In April 2016, the couple divorced.{{Cite web |author=Alexey Romanov |date=14 October 2016 |title=Страна |script-title=ru:Квартирный вопрос вождя Билецкого - жилье за 4 миллиона в Киеве и развод с женой |url=https://ctrana.news/news/36083-kvartirnyj-vopros-vozhdya-bileckogo-zhile-za-4-milliona-v-kieve-i-razvod-s-zhenoj.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615083321/https://strana.ua/news/36083-kvartirnyj-vopros-vozhdya-bileckogo-zhile-za-4-milliona-v-kieve-i-razvod-s-zhenoj.html |archive-date=15 June 2018 |access-date=8 February 2019 |publisher=Strana.ua |language=ru}}{{Cite web | url = https://politeka.net/person/692753-andrei-byletskyi-pochemu-ukraynskyi-natsyonalyst-ne-golosuet-v-rade/ | script-title = ru:Андрей Билецкий: почему украинский националист не голосует в Раде | publisher = Politeka.net | date = 4 August 2018 | access-date = 8 February 2019 | language = ru | archive-date = 2 July 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190702173248/https://politeka.net/person/692753-andrei-byletskyi-pochemu-ukraynskyi-natsyonalyst-ne-golosuet-v-rade/ | url-status = dead }}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Biletsky, A. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140924041340/http://rid.org.ua/knigarnya/AB/slovo.pdf Word of the White Leader]. "RiD". Kharkiv.
- [http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/site2/p_deputat?d_id=18065&skl=9 Profile] at the Ukrainian parliament website
{{2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biletsky, Andriy}}
Category:Politicians from Kharkiv
Category:National University of Kharkiv alumni
Category:Ukrainian nationalists
Category:People of Ukraine without Kuchma
Category:People of the National Guard of Ukraine
Category:Ukrainian police officers
Category:Far-right politics in Ukraine
Category:Prisoners and detainees of Ukraine
Category:Ukrainian prisoners and detainees
Category:Eighth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada
Category:Independent politicians in Ukraine