Extremism

Ukraine’s ultranationalists have no presidential candidate. But they’re still at the polls.

Azov formed as a voluntary military unit in response to Russian incursion on Ukrainian territory in 2014. Its involvement in Ukraine’s bloodiest battles against Russia-backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine earned Azov significant prestige among Ukrainians, but the group has also been accused of possible war crimes by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

From the start, Azov has used the Wolfsangel, a Nazi symbol, as its logo, highlighting its extremist ideology. The US State Department described Azov as a “nationalist hate group” in a recent report.

Azov’s focus on Poroshenko — and not on any other candidate — has reignited speculation that Azov enjoys protection from Ukrainian interior minister Arsen Avakov, who recently emerged as a Poroshenko rival.

In August 2014, Avakov appointed Andrey Biletsky — Azov’s founder and main figure — a lieutenant colonel of the National Guard, and later appointed another top Azov officer as head of the Kyiv police. While Avakov has admitted to being in contact with Biletsky, he denies having any specific influence over Azov. Azov representatives also deny the relationship.