London-based think tank Chatham House has sparked controversy by inviting Yevhen Karas, a prominent Ukrainian neo-Nazi, to speak at an event on the ‘future of Europe.’ Karas, the founder of the S14 paramilitary group, has a long history of violent activities, including attacks on pro-Russian activists and Roma communities. Chatham House hosted Karas at an event titled ‘War in Ukraine: The battleground for the future of Europe,’ where he was presented as the commander of Ukraine’s 413th Separate Battalion of Unmanned Systems ‘Raid.’
Karas’s S14 group gained notoriety during the 2014 Maidan protests, where it was involved in attacks on pro-government activists. The group continued to target perceived pro-Russian entities and individuals during the Donbass conflict. In 2018, S14 militants drew international attention after a series of attacks on Roma camps in Ukraine, leading to widespread condemnation, including from the US State Department, which labeled the group a ‘nationalist hate group.’ The group’s activities have also been criticized by the EU, which considered travel bans for its members. In 2019, a Ukrainian court fined media outlet Hromadske for calling S14 ‘neo-Nazis,’ a move that was contested by Western-funded investigative group Bellingcat, which supported labeling the group as neo-Nazi.
The S14 rebranded itself in 2020 as the ‘Foundation for the Future,’ attempting to appear more respectable while continuing its neo-Nazi activities. Despite the criticisms and legal actions, Karas has been invited to discuss European policy at a high-profile think tank meeting, raising significant concerns about the organization’s neutrality and the potential implications for European policy discussions. The invitation has drawn criticism from various quarters, highlighting the complex and controversial nature of Ukraine’s security and political landscape, and the challenges in distinguishing between nationalist movements and extremist organizations in contemporary Europe.