Anonymous ID: fd1c58 April 13, 2022, 5:46 p.m. No.16071203   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>1209 >>1272 >>1394 >>1445 >>1496 >>1542 >>1569

https://globalnews.ca/news/8758467/who-is-ukraines-azov-battalion/

Who is Ukraine’s Azov Battalion, the ‘ultra-nationalist’ group claiming chemical weapon attacks?

The Ukrainian government and its Western allies have been warning that an increasingly desperate Russian military might resort to chemical warfare for weeks.

That threat appeared to materialize on Monday, after Ukraine announced it was investigating “unverified” information that Russian troops used chemical weapons in the besieged southern city of Mariupol.

Unlike other reports of Russian atrocities in places like Bucha, which were quickly corroborated by Ukrainian and international authorities, the reports of chemical warfare in Mariupol have been treated with caution and skepticism.

That’s partly due to the source of the allegations: the far-right, ‘ultra-nationalist’ Azov militia group.

Azov leader Andriy Biletsky told the Kyiv Independent newspaper that three people in Mariupol displayed “clear signs of chemical poisoning” on April 11 — although Biletsky said there were no “disastrous consequences” for their health.

The unverified accusation set off alarm that Russia, already accused of an illegal invasion, massacring civilians and torture, had crossed another line in its increasingly bloody war.

But to understand why Azov’s claims are met with greater skepticism, you need to know about the regiment’s history – and it’s role in the information warfare being waged alongside Russia’s invasion.

Anonymous ID: fd1c58 April 13, 2022, 5:47 p.m. No.16071209   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>1218 >>1394 >>1445 >>1472 >>1496 >>1542 >>1569

>>16071203

>https://globalnews.ca/news/8758467/who-is-ukraines-azov-battalion/

Who is the Azov battalion?

Azov was formed in May 2014 as a “volunteer police battalion” according to Anton Shekhovstov, the director of Austria’s Centre for Democratic Integrity and a researcher on far-right groups in Europe. Their formation was directly influenced by Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

“The original battalion consisted mostly of football hooligans and members of the Ukrainian far-right, and it was the far-right organization ‘Patriot of Ukraine’ that was in charge of the original battalion,” Shekhovstov wrote.

“Several key people who were directly involved in the formation of the Azov battalion had an extremely dubious history of cooperating not only with pro-Russian forces in Ukraine but also with Russian political spin-doctors.

“Moreover, neither Azov nor other battalions did proper screening of volunteers, some of whom came from Russia. All that created a huge security risk of Russian operatives seizing control of Azov and turning into an anti-Ukrainian force.”

Shekhovstov wrote that some of the far-right elements in Azov departed to attempt to capitalize on the regiment’s military success, particularly in liberating Mariupol. But the far-right political parties in Ukraine failed to gain an electoral foothold — according to Shekhovstov, the far-right ticket received less than 2.2 per cent of the popular vote.

But Azov continues to be a force, both in a military sense and in the propaganda war. Russia’s “special military operation” has the “de-nazification” of Ukraine as one of its stated goals. The fact that Azov’s detractors refer to them as extremists with neo-Nazi roots assists in that propaganda campaign.

“But if we look at the actual facts, then in the last parliamentary elections in Ukraine, then the extreme right forces got less than three per cent (of the popular vote), which meant that they didn’t even get represented in parliament and instead by an overwhelming majority, a Jewish president was elected,” said Andres Kasekamp, a professor with the Munk School of Global Affairs at University of Toronto.

“And if you think of that three per cent, if you look around at most of the West, specifically Europe, then most European countries have extreme right groups which are in parliament with much more than three per cent.”

Anonymous ID: fd1c58 April 13, 2022, 5:48 p.m. No.16071218   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>1445 >>1496 >>1542 >>1569

>>16071209

>https://globalnews.ca/news/8758467/who-is-ukraines-azov-battalion/

Claims of Chemical Weapons

According to the Kyiv Independent, Azov claimed that a “poisonous substance” had been “distributed by a drone.” Victims reported a shortness of breath and “vestibullocerebellar ataxia,” a neurological disorder, the regiment said.

The Ukrainian government has not confirmed the use of chemical weapons, and U.S. and U.K. intelligence agencies — who have been releasing intelligence reports before and throughout the Russian invasion — have said they’re aware of the allegations but have not confirmed them.

“There is a theory that these could be phosphorous munitions,” said Hanna Malyar, Ukraine’s deputy defence minister, on Tuesday.

“Official information will come later.”

U.S. officials said last week that it had delivered equipment to guard Ukrainian soldiers against chemical and biological weaponry.

Western skepticism

Russia has denied the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, and has accused the Ukrainian government — without evidence — of preparing to use chemical weapons themselves. The Kremlin and its proxies on the internet have also been active in spreading conspiracy theories about U.S. biolabs in Ukraine — a pretext, some observers have argued, for the use of chemical weapons by Russian forces.

But Western intelligence agencies — including in the U.S. and U.K. — have been hesitant to confirm Azov’s reporting, despite a general willingness to share sensitive intelligence about the Russian invasion.

Confirmation would put even more pressure on Western governments to assist Ukraine in their struggle. But if Azov’s claims are disproven or discredited, the Kremlin will have another arrow in its quiver to discredit Ukrainian claims of atrocities.

with files from Reuters.

Anonymous ID: fd1c58 April 13, 2022, 6:13 p.m. No.16071412   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>1414 >>1496 >>1542 >>1569

>>16071369

>https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/san-diego-attorney-admits-conspiring-commit-500000-tax-fraud-former-chabad-poway-rabbi

San Diego Attorney Admits to Conspiring to Commit $500,000 of Tax Fraud with Former Chabad of Poway Rabbi Goldstein

SAN DIEGO – Elliot Adler, an attorney and founding partner of a boutique San Diego law firm, pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring with former Chabad of Poway Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein to commit tax fraud.

According to his plea agreement, Adler admitted that beginning at least as early as 2010 and continuing through October 2018, he participated in a so-called “90/10” tax scheme with Rabbi Goldstein. Specifically, Adler gave money to Rabbi Goldstein that purported to be a donation to Chabad of Poway. Goldstein then secretly funneled ninety percent of the funds back to Adler, keeping ten percent of the funds as his fee. None of the donated funds was actually given to the Chabad as a charitable donation.

Adler then falsely claimed that the fraudulent donations were tax-deductible on his tax returns, allowing him to reduce his personal income tax liability by approximately $500,000 (cumulatively) for tax years 2011 through 2017.

To accomplish the scheme, Adler and Goldstein communicated using coded language. Goldstein would refer to cash as “challah,” the source of the cash as “the baker,” and would invite co-conspirators to “wrap tefillin” when he proposed meeting to receive checks or deliver cash. For example, on Thursday, January 7, 2016, Goldstein texted Adler, “Good morning I got the challah[.] What time?” That same day, Adler replied via text message, “Monday morning 8am at shul or today before 12pm if you can come to my office.” Goldstein then replied, “Monday @8 is fine.” On Monday, January 11, 2016, Goldstein deposited a check from Adler for $30,000 payable to Chabad of Poway.

On or about December 29, 2017, Goldstein deposited two sequentially numbered checks from Adler, one for $180,000 and the other for $980,000. On Friday, January 5, 2018, Goldstein sent Adler a coded text message proposing that they “get together and wrap teffilin.” A few days later, on January 10, 2018, Goldstein wired approximately $1million to a wholesale and retail jeweler to purchase 246 Suisse Fortuna 1 oz. rectangular gold ingots, 246 Canadian Maple Leaf 1 oz. gold coins, and 246 American Eagle 1 oz. gold coins. On January 17, 2018, Goldstein sent another coded message to Adler asking him, “[w]hen can you come [i]n for a teffilin wrap? I’m ready for you.” Goldstein delivered the gold to Adler the next day. Adler nonetheless claimed on his 2017 tax returns that he had donated over $1 million to charity, fraudulently reducing his 2017 tax liability by approximately $447,000.

Anonymous ID: fd1c58 April 13, 2022, 6:13 p.m. No.16071414   🗄️.is 🔗kun

>>16071412

>San Diego Attorney Admits to Conspiring to Commit $500,000 of Tax Fraud with Former Chabad of Poway Rabbi Goldstein

Adler and Goldstein took additional steps to conceal their scheme from authorities. On or about October 18, 2018, Goldstein told Adler that he was under investigation by the IRS and that he had been the subject of an undercover operation relating to tax evasion. Goldstein asked for Adler’s help to prove, falsely, that Goldstein, and not Adler, was in possession of the gold coins purchased with Adler’s purported donation. In the early hours of October 19, 2018, Adler arrived at Goldstein’s residence and returned the gold coins.

In July 2020, Rabbi Goldstein pleaded guilty to fraud charges, admitting that he participated in a complex, years-long, multi-million-dollar tax-evasion scheme and other financial deceptions involving theft of public money. Rabbi Goldstein’s plea agreement outlined the fraud scheme with Adler.

Adler is the eleventh individual to plead guilty to crimes discovered in this investigation. Two additional individuals agreed to deferred prosecution agreements as a result of the investigation.

“Elliot Adler conspired to commit a $500,000 tax fraud through phony religious donations,” said U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman. “Tax fraud is a serious crime that directly impacts our communities, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with the IRS, FBI and our other law enforcement partners to bring those responsible to justice.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and agents for their hard work on this case.

“This defendant was part of an elaborate, years-long financial scheme to fraudulently claim charitable contributions in an effort to avoid paying taxes,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “The FBI and our federal partners will continue to vigorously pursue those who abuse tax laws for their own financial gain - which also diminishes the public’s trust in charitable giving and hurts the organizations who rely on such donations.”

“For years, Mr. Adler shirked his duty to pay his fair share and then he doubled-down in a failed attempt to cover up his million-dollar tax fraud with Rabbi Goldstein,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Tax revenue funds our critical infrastructure, our national defense and pays for social programs like health care, education and social security. A one percent increase or decrease in tax compliance equates to approximately $35 billion in tax revenue used to serve the American public. IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to rooting out tax schemes and working with our law enforcement partners to bring financial fraudsters to justice.”

Anonymous ID: fd1c58 April 13, 2022, 6:34 p.m. No.16071587   🗄️.is 🔗kun

https://twitter.com/CoreResponse/status/1513554327205384193

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pangea-laboratory-donates-50-000-covid-19-pcr-tests-for-the-uninsured-301519009.html

Anonymous ID: fd1c58 April 13, 2022, 6:43 p.m. No.16071670   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>1726

https://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/detectives-attempt-to-identify-additional-victims-nr22098rc/

Detectives Attempt to Identify Additional Victims

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department’s Juvenile Division, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, are seeking to identify any additional victims after the arrest of 50-year-old Joseph Gatt, a Los Angeles resident.

On April 6, 2022, around 4:45 a.m., detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Juvenile Division, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, served a residential search warrant at the home of Joseph Gatt in the area of 3rd Street and La Jolla, after they received information that Gatt had been engaged in online sexually explicit communication with a minor across state lines. He was subsequently arrested by detectives for an outstanding felony warrant for California Penal Code 288.3(a) – Contact with a Minor for Sexual Offense.

The Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is comprised of over 100 federal and local affiliate agencies that detect and investigate child predators that use the Internet as a means to contact children or deal in child sexual abuse material. The public is reminded that any suspected inappropriate contact with a minor or knowledge of child sexual abuse material on the Internet, should be immediately reported to their local law enforcement agency or to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at (800) 843-5678, or missing kids.com. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will forward the information to the appropriate law enforcement agency nationwide.

This case is an ongoing investigation being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Denos Amarantos at 562-624-4027. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu. Tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.