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Rebels and oligarchs: 7 key players in eastern Ukraine

A look at the Russian-born rebels and the wealthy Ukrainian oligarchs who are key players in Ukraine's restless east.

2. Alexander Borodai

Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters
Alexander Borodai the Prime Minister of the self proclaimed 'Donetsk People's Republic' attends a news conference in Donetsk, June 21, 2014.

A friend of Igor Girkin, Alexander Borodai is the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. A Russian citizen who previously worked in public relations, he says he met Mr. Girkin in 1996 in Chechnya and calls him a “very good acquaintance.”  Borodai was allegedly a war correspondent when he was in Chechnya. Additionally, he allegedly fought in Transnistria. He's on the European Union blacklist. 

He claims that his rebellion is a local uprising. “The people of Donbas rose on their own. It is normal and natural that we ended up heading this movement because of certain competences, our abilities.” Borodai denies any past role with the Russian security services; he told Retuers that he worked as a “professional political expert.” Malaysia's prime minister Najib Razak negotiated directly with Borodai to recover the black boxes from downed flight MH17. Malaysian officials upset Ukrainian officials by referring to Borodai as "excellency."

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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