Vladimir Kvachkov
Vladimir Kvachkov | |
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Native name | Владимир Васильевич Квачков |
Born | Kraskino, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union | 5 August 1948
Rank | Colonel |
Unit | |
Battles/wars | |
Alma mater | Frunze Military Academy |
Spouse(s) | Nadezhda Kvachkova[1] |
Children |
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Vladimir Vasilievich Kvachkov (
Early years
Vladimir Vasilievich Kvachkov was born on 5 August 1948,
Col. Kvachkov's ribbon chart: click on the ribbon bar to see the award |
Military career in GRU
In 1981, shortly after his graduation from the military academy, Kvachkov began serving in
From 1984 to 1986, Kvachkov served in Pskov, and from 1986 to 1989 he was the Chief of the Staff of a brigade in the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. In 1989, Kvachkov became the commander of the 15th GRU Spetsnaz brigade located in the Turkestan Military District, and took part in military conflicts in Azerbaijan during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1990, and in the Tajikistani Civil War in 1992.[2][4] Kvachkov later served as a military consultant for the movie Black Shark, devoted to Black Shark helicopter pilots and Spetznaz GRU, where he also played a role as a Spetznaz colonel in the film.[2][4]
In 1997 Kvachkov and Pavel Popovskikh (at that time the Chief of Military Intelligence of the
Post-retirement life
In 1998, Kvachkov retired from the active military service with the rank of colonel. He started to work as a senior research fellow with the Center for Military and Strategic Research of Russian Defense Ministry, working on the theory and practice of modern
Assassination attempt
On 17 March 2005, Anatoly Chubais, head of the state run monopoly RAO UES and a major privatization economic reformer, narrowly escaped an ambush outside Moscow when his convoy was blasted with roadside bombs and trapped under automatic gunfire. The armored car carrying Chubais was damaged by a remotely controlled improvised explosive device, but was able to continue moving without stopping while the second car carrying bodyguards was shot upon. Allegedly the assailants left the scene in the green Saab car. Police investigators traced the green Saab reported at the scene, which turned out to be Kvachkov's wife car. The prosecution insisted not to divulge details of the case.[5]
Arrest
Soon Kvachkov and two other former Spetznaz troopers, Alexander Naydenov and Robert Yashin were detained under suspicion of involvement into the assassination. The Meshchansky District Court of Moscow approved ten-days-arrest for Kvachkov. Investigators did not have any direct evidence or indicating his guilt, but indirect evidence allowed the court to issue the warrant. Igor Yartykh, a lawyer who won a case involving former paratroopers accused of the murder of Dmitry Kholodov, took Kvachkov's defense.[6] According to the version of the investigators, Vladimir Kvachkov, Naydenov and Yashin as well as Vladimir Kvachkov's son, Alexander Kvachkov and Ivan Mironov, son of former Minister for Media and Information, Boris Mironov conspired to assassinate Chubais. The version was mostly based on the words of a single witness, Igor Karvatko.[4]
On 19 March 2005, Kvachkov, who was a specialist in
First trial
Court hearings began in spring 2006. The accused maintained that the assassination was staged by Chubais himself. In November–December 2006 Karvatko changed his testimony accusing the investigators in undue pressure and threats. He said that he was abducted by
The Crossbow Coup
On 22 December 2009,
The Moscow City Court approved the arrest. Kvachkov's lawyer Andrei Pershin said via the phone that he believed that the arrest of his client was Chubais's revenge. "Considering the fact that he was already in pretrial detention, we expected this to happen," Pershin said about the court decision to keep Kvachkov in
On February 8, 2013, the
Subsequently, the prison term was reduced to 8 years and in 2019 Kvachkov was released.
Political activity
2005 Duma elections
On 4 December 2005, Kvachkov, while in prison, took 30% and won the second place in the by-elections of the State Duma deputies in the North-East of Moscow.[4]
Kvachkov was adamant to entreats of his supporters to run for the Duma mandate, which would set him free (elected representatives receive
Preliminary figures put Kvachkov's vote at 29 percent, quite an astonishing outcome.
2006 Duma elections
On 12 March 2006, Kvachkov stood for the State Duma again, now in the Medvedkovo district of Moscow. Andrey Savelyev from the Rodina faction announced that "Rodina members canvass Kvachkov's candidature in earnest," However, Rodina's leader Vladimir Rogozin refuted the statement nearly at once. Kvachkov said he had never considered the chances of taking part in elections until 8 September 2005. There was a reason, however, why Kvachkov didn't rush to elections: Taking part in them could be interpreted as indirect acknowledgment of guilt, Kvachkov pointed out, having good grounds for the supposition. Andrey Trapeznikov, member of the RAO UES board, said "Should Kvachkov agree to be nominated, it would be an illustrative indicator that he feels his guilt and tries to avoid responsibility by using deputy's credentials"[32]
Kvachkov was not registered as a candidate by the regional Electoral Commission. Protesting this decision, Kvachkov's devoted sidekicks Naydenov and Yashin went on hunger strike in their prison.[4] By the beginning of the elections, detention term for Kvachkov as well as for his alleged accomplices had been extended until 18 December, to pitch him out from the race.[33] Another applicant for the elections, Communist Party member Yelena Lukyanova, a law professor at Moscow State University and the daughter of top-ranked Soviet apparatchik Anatoly Lukyanov,[34] withdrew from the race, even though Rodina and the Union of Right Forces had considered backing her bid. Lukyanova said that she decided to leave the race because she believed it would be unfair. "I withdrew because I cannot take part in an election where a candidate does not enjoy the same rights I do," she said, referring to Kvachkov, who was in jail, left without any options to support his own candidature.[35]
Both times, in 2005 and 2006, the Moscow branch of Labour Russia and Vanguard of Red Youth helped Kvachkov with his election campaign.[36]
Position on the conflict in Ukraine
Vladimir Kvachkov has strongly supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine,[37] but criticized Russian military for insufficient successes and called for the general mobilization of Russian population. In August 2023, he was fined 40 thousand rubles for “discrediting the army,” and in October he was placed under administrative supervision and banned from participating in rallies for five years.[38][39]
Publications
- Спецназ России (Russian Spetznaz), 2004, ISBN 978-5-93165-186-6
- Спецназ. 55 лет соединениям и частям специального назначения Вооруженных Сил Российской Федерации (Spetznaz. 55 years of Special Operations Forces of Russian Federation), 2005, ISBN 5-366-00002-5
- Опасен Верностью России (Dangerous By His Faithfulness To Russia), 2006 ISBN 5-9265-0231-4
- "Special Operations: Basic Types and Forms." Military Thought. 9(5): 70.
Honours and awards
Soviet Union
- Order of the Red Star
- Medal "Veteran of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
- Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
- Jubilee Medal "60 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
- Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
- Medal "For Impeccable Service", 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes
Russian Federation
Trivia
Kvachkov's cell mate at the Matrosskaya Tishina detention facility was former business oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky.[40] According to Kvachkov Khodorkovsky is an exception among the oligarchs: "I have not found him intriguing against the state", said Kvachkov.[4]
Khodorkovsky also planned to participate in the Duma byelections for the same seat as Kvachkov.
Footnotes
- General Staff Academy, but due to some certain circumstances, particularly to the current imprisonment, he is not allowed to defend doctoral degree, so the degree process is temporarily suspended.
- b As he later commented his unwillingness to either admit or deny his involvement, was motivated by the concern, that court trial could be reopened "due to newly surfaced facts", in spite of the fact that he's already acquitted, and the acquittal itself isn't immutable, and would be contested by Chubais lawyers in case if Kvachkov admits some information related to his role in the assassination attempt.
- c His exact words were: "Thou shalt not kill a man, but you must eliminate the enemy."
- . However, that objection was dismissed by the judge.
References
- ^ Полковник Квачков на свободе!. shurigin.livejournal.com (6 June 2006) (in Russian)
- ^ a b c d e f Biography Official site of Kvachkov Archived 11 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Vkvachkov.ru. Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ a b c Sergey Ptichkin. Досье полковника Квачкова. — Rossiyskaya Gazeta, 21 March 2005 [1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Квачков, Владимир collection of materials by Lenta.ru (in Russian)
- New York Times. 26 March 2005. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Aleksandr Zheglov; Vlad Trifonov; Ivan Saf. (2005). "Pensioner Gets Ten Days for Attempted Murder of Anatoly Chubais". Kommersant. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Квачков молчать не будет. Gazeta.ru (30 June 2010). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ Arkady Ostrovsky (26 March 2005). "Murder case appeal planned by former Yukos security chief as life sentence is sought". Financial Times. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Свидетель исчезнет вслед за Чубайсом. Gazeta.ru (5 December 2006). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ Свидетель отрицания. Vremya.ru (27 November 2006). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ a b Afanasy Sborov (26 December 2007). "Ten Cases in One Year". Kommersant (50 (754). Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Присяжные вынесли оправдательный вердикт по делу Владимира Квачкова. Archived 9 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
- Moscow Times. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Заявление Председателя правления РАО "ЕЭС России" Анатолия Чубайса на вердикт присяжных по делу Квачкова и других Archived 8 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Rao-ees.ru (5 June 2008). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ Arkady Ostrovsky (30 December 2005). "Russian liberals fear the rising threat of nationalism". Financial Times. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Каспаров.Ru | Суд оправдал всех участников покушения на Чубайса. Kasparov.ru (5 June 2008). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ Kvachkov interview to Echo of Moscow (in Russian)
- ^ "Colonel's shoulder-straps weigh upon the jurors". Kommersant. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
- ^ "Criminal cases of assassination attempt on Chubais to be merged". Kommersant. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
- ^ "New staging of old play". Kommersant. 24 November 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
- ^ "Присяжные оправдали полковника Квачкова". Lenta.ru. 21 August 2010.
- ^ Ъ-Газета – Дело о покушении на Анатолия Чубайса не удалось. Kommersant.ru (23 December 2010). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ Квачков не признает себя виновным в подготовке вооруженного мятежа | Суды | Лента новостей "РИА Новости". Rian.ru (23 December 2010). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ Журнал А. Б. Чубайса – Моего «друга» Квачкова опять арестовали Archived 11 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. A-chubais.livejournal.com (24 December 2010). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ Чубайс: обвинение Квачкова в мятеже – дело нешуточное. Gazeta.ru (24 December 2010). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ Alexander Bratersky (19 January 2011). "Kvachkov in Jail for Alleged Crossbow Coup" (PDF). The St. Petersburg Times (64 (1603): 2. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "И. Егоров. Квачкова признали виновным". www.rg.ru (in Russian). 8 February 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ Nabi Abdullaev (20 September 2005). "Inmates Ready To Enter Local Election Race" (PDF). The St. Petersburg Times (72 (1106): 1–2. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Arkady Ostrovsky (5 December 2005). "Kremlin-backed United Russia party ahead in Moscow polls". Financial Times. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Carl Schreck (6 December 2005). "Film Director Beats Satirist in State Duma By-election" (PDF). The St. Petersburg Times (94 (1128): 3. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Scenes from an election". Russian Life. 49 (1): 7. January–February 2006.
- ^ Alexander Zheglov (9 September 2005). "Election Campaign in Matrosskaya Tishina Detention Facility". Kommersant (169 (3253). Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ "Man charged with attempted murder against Chubais posts cash bond to run for parliament". Society. RIA Novosti. 8 October 2005. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- Moscow Times. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- Moscow Times. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
- ^ Chubais Really Deserved It. Northstarcompass.org; 12 March 2006; retrieved on 27 May 2012
- ^ Kvachkov, Vladimir (28 March 2022). "An open letter from Colonel V.V. Kvachkov to the officers of the General Staff and the Special Operations Command". Official site of the All-Russian Officer Assembly. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023.
- ^ "«Наносить ядерный удар по русской земле — это кощунство». Полковник Квачков — о мобилизации и боевых действиях на Украине". RTVI (in Russian). 25 October 2022.
- ^ "Суд запретил Квачкову ходить на массовые мероприятия до 2029 года". RBK (in Russian). 6 September 2023.
- ^ Election Campaign in Matrosskaya Tishina Detention Facility Archived 30 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Kommersant.com (9 September 2005). Retrieved on 27 May 2012.
- ^ Khodorkovsky to stand for Dumas, "CNN;" 31 August 2005; accessed 15 June 2008
External links
- Official site of Kvachkov (in Russian)
- Kvachkov manifesto "We Are Living In The Occupied Country" (in Russian)