The group of Russian bikers is linked to paramilitary groups and security services. Meanwhile, going through piecemeal European borders, at a time heading to Berlin. Last time, they have been spotted in Vienna. Among bans, denied visas, gimmicks and much eyewash, who they are and why everybody is so afraid of the Night Wolves .
Everything and more has been written on their leader, Alexander Zaldostanov, aka”the Surgeon”, from his personal friendship with Putin to his bike raids in Crimea. He has the look of a bogeyman, and his nickname, well, reminds a character in a horror movie. But this is appearance. The former dentist born in Ukraine and who loves to ride an American bike, is the poster boy of Putinism: religious orthodoxy and chauvinism galore, machismo seeping from every pore with the right amount of homophobia, exaltation of Russian values in antagonism to the decadence of the West. Something like the Kremlin press office on two wheels.
The group has had a significant role during the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbass. “I’m ready to throw myself on the machine gun nest,” Zaldostanov said. “Have no doubt of that.” For his support to the “return of the Crimea” and to the separatists of the East, the group – heading on a ride to in Berlin to commemorate the 70th anniversary of victory over fascism – has been denied entering Poland and Lithuania.
Why are they so scared? Who really are these the Night Wolves?
The holding of the Wolves
A look on their site leads to interesting discoveries. As for example the fact that the gang is partner of the International Holding of Security Structures Volk, Wolf. A company that deals with investigative services, combat training, bodyguards and transport of valuables goods. It operates “with the support of the Night Wolves “, it’s written on the site. A number of other companies are linked to the holding, all operating in the military and security field, like the Green Berets Association, the Association of Russian paratroopers and the training center for combat techniques, Systema. The latter also has office throughout Europe. The headquarters of the Volk Holding is in the motorcyclist’s group base, the “Baiker tsentr”, a garage on the outskirts of Moscow that looks like a set of Mad Max.
At the head of the holding there is a certain Gennady Nikulov, former paratrooper, in the field of security services from the nineties. Nikulov went through the events of the last twenty years in Russia: “from 1988 to 1992 he defended democracy in Moscow with weapons in his hands,” it written on his biography. And yet, “in 1993 he took part in the assault on the White House” and “in 2014 took part in the events of the ‘Russian Spring’ in Crimea”. Today he is vice president of the “self-defense forces” of Sevastopol. For his merits, Nikulov was awarded the medal “for the return of the Crimea” by the Russian Defense Ministry and “for the third defense of Sevastopol”. But above all, he was authorized to carry military firearms on the proposal of a member of the Duma, Frants Klintsevich (one who loves to post pictures of Stalin on his Facebook profile) “for conducting a special combat operation in Crimea.” According to the organization chart of the holding, the Night Wolves are under his direct control.
Closed borders
It is not for these reasons that Poland and Lithuania stopped the booming caravan at their borders, but more likely for the stance in favor of the annexation of Crimea and in support of eastern Ukraine separatists. The reasons given were bureaucratic, documents, papers, paperwork. Leading to two considerations. On the one hand that their fault would result in a sort of crime of opinion; on the other hand, that the methods used by Polish and Lithuanian are exactly the same ones used by the Russian authorities when they want to get rid of, for example, some journalist or a foreign NGO: quirks, missing permissions, visas denied. With the aggravating circumstance to offer Moscow a new opportunity to protest against the lack of respect for the freedoms of expression, and play at the victim.
The caravan in the meantime is a bit lost its way. Since Germany also seemed about to stop them – while Hungary and Austria have not made problems – the Wolves have left the herd and moved in no particular order. Someone by plane, someone else on a local friend’s bike not to be identified by the number plate, someone else even by rented car. Any mean is good to be in Berlin on 9 May, the Victory day.
Whatever happens, the media success is guaranteed. And the exhaust smoke in the eyes too.
@daniloeliatweet
