Motorola

Bio
Arsen Sergeevich Pavlov (Motorola), opolchenie commander (Sparta), DPR, 2 February 1983-16 October 2016.

Chechnya war and opolchenie veteran (with odd jobs in between). Twice married, 3 children (2 in the second marriage, with the youngest born 2 weeks before his murder).

Арсен Сергеевич Павлов (Моторола)

TASS profile

Death confirmed by DPR

Breaking
16 Oct. 2016 Reports of a terrorist act, an explosion in central Donetsk. Opolchenie and Rusvesna report that Motorola was killed in explosion in an elevator of a multi-flat house where he lived with his family. Officially confirmed by DPR. One opolchenie bodyguard was killed too. His wife and children were not hurt. (Updates.)(Report and video from the scene).
 * Emotional (though in a broader perspective likely inconsequential) statement of Zakharchenko highlights who is to blame for the present dire situation and clashes continuing.
 * Ukrainian reports, social media, Yarosh, etc, are mostly cheering up.
 * Unknowns claimed responsibility in the name of Ukrainian neo-nazi, under the flag of the "misanthropic division"-but the latter  said it is a fake and they are not involved.

Ukrainian

 * Ridus, "I know I will be dead", Ukrainian journalist interview based, of disputed accuracy, October 17, 2016. Repeats outline of a fake story that Motorola had 15 prisoners executed; and here (112.ua) too.
 * 'Killing 15 prisoners' fake repeated by BBC, October 17, 2016, without showing an attempt to check


 * He was also accused in the past of execution of 'kiborg' Igor Branovytsky, in a tale told by another released from prison 'kiborg', certain Yurii Sova -BBC Russian. Sova also tells he was beaten. But no reason to think this story is true and not Ukrainian propaganda, with generally good treatment of prisoners by DPR (as opposed to Ukraine), and many fakes, including fake audio of Motorola 'admission' of killing prisoners. Captured Kiborgs were released from prison, in quite good shape, just to be used for propaganda by Ukraine.
 * Sova story was refuted by Rusvesna, 25 March 2015.


 * TSN.ua, no good words and plenty of hate speech here, October 17, 2016
 * Yarosh on social media, quoted by Rusvesna, October 17, 2016

Western

 * Ukraine neo-Nazis say they killed rebel commander 'Motorola' - BBC News, October 17, 2016 (mirror, 2)

Video

 * (21+) Кадры с места гибели Арсена Павлова (Моторола) - News-Front, October 17, 2016

Refuting accusations

 * Here he refutes killing prisoners story himself, English subs, published Apr 8, 2015
 * Friendly meeting with Kiborgs on rotation to airport, friendly chat about stopping fighting each other, tells them that there are bodies of their comrades in the terminal building -showing lots of respect (not afforded to himself now by Ukrainian crowd). Published on Dec 12, 2014.

Misanthropic Division claims responsibility

 * Появилось заявление якобы убийц Моторолы - Александр Коц ‏@sashakots  in Twitter, October 16, 2016
 * Video shows four masked gunmen claiming responsibility for Motorola's assassination. Flags of the Misanthropic Division and the Phoenix Division are placed in the background

Misanthropic division denied responsibility- Misanthropic Division VK, October 17, 2016. Also appeared in 112.ua

It is said that that (fake) video was made by "Phoenix". That is a social media group of some young Ukrainian (Russian speaking) neo-nazi with no skills to pull of such assassination (or in fact anything)

Analysis

 * The Murder of Motorola – questions which must be answered - The Saker, October 17, 2016
 * (briefly addressed in discussion).


 * Opinion: Assassination of DPR Commander 'Motorola'. Mighty Ukrainian Saboteurs or Ignored Problems in Donbass? - SouthFront, October 17, 2016

Discussion
Motorola killing appears to be aimed at creating chaos and more war. His building was well guarded, raising possibility of accusations of an insider job. However there is no reason for this, he was not politically active or involved in commercial dealings, he did not associate himself with anybody possibly unpopular among DPR leadership, and did not have fall-outs with anybody. On the side of Ukraine, military significance of his murder is not really high (he will be replaced as a commander) but it creates more hatred and war, in hearts and minds, and in symbolic/media imagery (social media war on his public image ongoing). As with pro-Ukrainian Belorussian journalist Shermet murder in Ukraine, it appears to be designed to cause maximal chaos and upheaval--Resup (talk) 11:45, 17 October 2016 (UTC)

Re Saker article above (and the questions are-what?) -Russia has a strong influence but does not micro-manage everything. It does not run day to day security of popular in social media field commanders in particular (if it needs somebody out of the way, it can do it, but no reason at all in this case). Russia does what it thinks should be done, not what somebody else thinks is urgently needed. Its top-notch security support comes attached with particular state/top leadership objectives, or, sometimes, with business/financial streams; neither of that applies to Motorola, as popular as he might be. Can it be changed and proper shiny Russian World installed in those two particular Donbas half-regions, for all the coach warriors approval and admiration? Maybe. Good for him to call for it at least. Does not mean it will actually happen. Even if it 'should' have. That's why there is grass root peoples Novorossia movement--in the form of 'patriotic opposition'. So far, that popular movement and the state are in disconnect. Can it change and became more harmonious? May be.(PS. Bezler is alive and well by the way as far as anybody knows). --Resup (talk) 01:53, 18 October 2016 (UTC)