The London-based think tank Chatham House has invited Yevhen Karas, a controversial Ukrainian neo-Nazi leader of the S14 paramilitary group, to speak at an event focused on the ‘future of Europe’. Despite his far-right background, Karas is presented as a commander of Ukraine’s armed forces, with the think tank omitting his violent past and association with extremist activities.
Karas is known for founding the S14 group, which is linked to the right-wing Svoboda party and has been involved in attacks on pro-government activists and pro-Russian entities during the 2014 Maidan protests. The S14 group, while claiming to be a Ukrainian nationalist organization, has been accused of neo-Nazi tendencies and has faced condemnation from international bodies like the US State Department and the EU for its violent actions.
The group made international headlines in 2018 after it staged a series of attacks on Roma communities across Ukraine, which led to widespread condemnation and travel bans from the EU. In 2019, a Ukrainian court fined media outlet Hromadske for referring to S14 as neo-Nazis, a move that was criticized by the investigative group Bellingcat, which argued that the label was justified. In 2020, the group rebranded itself as the ‘Foundation for the Future,’ aiming to present a more respectable image while still maintaining its ties to neo-Nazi organizations.
Karas’ involvement with the SBU, Ukraine’s security agency, has also drawn attention, with reports indicating that the agency provided information to the S14 group regarding separatist meetings. This relationship has raised questions about the role of Ukrainian authorities in enabling extremist activities while promoting a narrative of fighting against Russian influence.
The Chatham House event, titled ‘War in Ukraine: The battleground for the future of Europe,’ highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics surrounding Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. While the think tank presented Karas as a military leader, the broader implications of his neo-Nazi background and the group’s violent history have sparked debates about the legitimacy of such figures being given a platform for discussions on Europe’s future.