German neo-Nazis trained at Russian camps
Right-wing extremists in Germany are participating in
paramilitary training at a special camp near city of Saint Petersburg in
Russia, German news magazine Focus reported Friday.
Members of the youth wing of Germany's extreme-right
National Democratic Party (NPD) and the minor right-wing party The Third Way
have completed the training, the report said, citing German intelligence
sources.
The participants received training in how to use weapons and
explosives. They were also trained in close combat, the magazine said.
Swedish and Finnish nationals are also among the trainees.
Participants go on to join Russian militias active in eastern Ukraine.
Run by 'terrorist' organization
The "Partizan" camp is run by followers of
Russia's right-wing extremist Russian Imperial Movement (RIM). German
intelligence believes RIM has two camps close to Saint Petersburg. The
organization seeks the restoration of the Russian Empire.
The US recently added RIM to its list of global terrorist
groups. The group had "provided paramilitary-style training to white
supremacists and neo-Nazis in Europe," the US said.
Russia responded at the time saying that adding the group to
the list did not help fight terrorism and that the US had not provided any
details.
Moscow also considers the movement of the ultra-right-wing
Christian Orthodox Russians to be extremist. However, the group is not banned
in Russia.
German intelligence is aware that extremists from Germany
are attending the camps. For legal reasons however, they cannot prohibit the
travel to Russia, Focus reported.
Officials assume that Russian President Vladimir Putin is
aware of the existence of the camps.
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