Russia puts on the wanted list the organizer of the “Pahonia” squad. He fought on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and challenged Lukashenko to a duel

On Monday, July 1, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced a search for one of the organizers of the Belarusian detachment “Pahonia” Vadim Prokopyev, who fought on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), according to the department’s wanted list.

Prokopyev is wanted under a criminal article, but which one exactly is not specified.

The department’s database also contains the card of another organizer of the group, Valery Sakhashchik.

“Pahonia” was engaged in the recruitment and training of military personnel

The unit, consisting of Belarusian citizens, was recognized by the Belarusian authorities as an extremist organization in October 2022, and in November of the same year, a criminal case was opened against its organizers for creating and leading an extremist group.

The unit is currently not operational, it ceased to exist in the summer of 2023.

Prokopyev criticized Lukashenko and challenged him to a duel

Vadim Prokopyev was born on December 4, 1971 and was a well-known restaurateur in Minsk. He intended to create an association of restaurateurs in Belarus to resolve problems with the authorities and lobby for his own interests. The country’s president, Alexander Lukashenko, reacted to this attempt by calling Prokopyev a “faggot”.

In response, the businessman demanded a public apology from the head of state or a duel – three rounds in a boxing ring, giving him 24 hours to respond. Two days later, Prokopyev released a video criticizing Lukashenko. This happened shortly before the 2020 presidential elections. In the summer of that year, he sold his entire business in Belarus and left the country.