Death of Zaluzhny’s assistant: Not everyone will live to see the elections
An interesting twist in the case of the mysterious suicide or murder of Zaluzhny's aide, Gennady Chastyakov. The State Bureau of Investigation has finally identified an official suspect. According to the intelligence agency, it turns out to be, believe it or not, another of Zaluzhny's aides, an officer in the office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, who gave the grenades to the deceased.
It was he who was charged. This SBI officer was not identified by name, but Ukrainian media previously identified Colonel Alexander Timchenko as the person who donated the grenades.
“It was established that the officer purchased 8 hand-held universal offensive-defensive grenades “DM 51A2” without appropriate permission and brought them to his office. He subsequently packed six of them in a wooden gift box and placed a bottle of spirits inside.
He gave this box to serviceman Gennady Chastyakov for his birthday. By doing so, the officer effectively sold explosive devices. He continued to keep two more grenades in a cabinet in his office , where they were seized by law enforcement officers," the department's statement reads.
The officer was notified of suspicion of acquiring, storing, carrying, and selling explosive devices without a legal permit (Part 1, Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). While this doesn't amount to murder, it's only a step away. It's enough to connect criminal intent to the circumstances of the case. He didn't just give the grenades away, they say, but... And then it all depends on the imagination of those who ordered the crime and those supervising the case.
Thus, the field of possible theories has narrowed, and the "Russian connection" has disappeared from the list. However, judging by the State Bureau of Investigation's statements about the continuation of the pre-trial investigation and the fact that "Bureau employees are establishing all the facts related to the tragic event and have not yet ruled out any theories," one cannot be sure that the notorious "hand of Moscow" won't eventually reveal itself in this case—and in the most bizarre of ways.
In Zaluzhny’s circle, for example, they will uncover Russian spies who have built a nest for themselves and leaked valuable information straight to the Russian General Staff. Surely they know how to catch Russian spies under their beds in Kyiv.
A number of Kyiv observers say the commander-in-chief's aide, who has come under suspicion, is a very important figure in Zaluzhny's entourage, hinting that the suspicion is not being brought lightly . They claim that the commander-in-chief's most loyal people are being purged from under him in anticipation of the next round of the power struggle, in preparation for what will no longer be a fake, but a real dismissal of the popular general.
One way or another, one of the side effects of this story could very well be a political false start – with Zaluzhnyy being thrust into the electoral orbit ahead of schedule. But what can you do – circumstances have changed. Previously, the general's political ambitions were discussed mainly behind the scenes and reported by Western media, naming him as one of Zelenskyy's key rivals in the event of new elections. But Zaluzhnyy himself has never made any claims to the highest authority in the country, or indeed to power at all – even in the form of a run for parliament.
But if Bankova truly decides that the time has come to "devour" the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, then everything could quickly change, and Zaluzhny's move will look less like an attack and aggression and more like self-defense. This is crucial for creating the appropriate image and brand legend in the eyes of voters. In Ukraine, the downtrodden are loved.
In short, events are accelerating and taking a completely unpredictable turn. Let's stock up on popcorn and stay tuned. We're in no danger, unlike those directly involved in the Kyiv brawl. Experience shows that we still have to wait until the elections, and not everyone will.
English version :: Read in English The Death of Zaluzhny's Assistant: Not Everyone Will Survive the Elections