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Twitter Meme Mocks Russian Claims Over Slovyansk Shoot-Out


Ukraine's ultranationalist Right Sector group has poured scorn on allegations that the business card of one of its leaders Dmytro Yarosh (pictured) was found at the scene of a shoot-out near Slovyansk. It seems a large portion of the Internet community has also scoffed at the claim. (file photo)
Ukraine's ultranationalist Right Sector group has poured scorn on allegations that the business card of one of its leaders Dmytro Yarosh (pictured) was found at the scene of a shoot-out near Slovyansk. It seems a large portion of the Internet community has also scoffed at the claim. (file photo)
If Dmytro Yarosh, the leader of the Ukrainian far-right group Right Sector, wasn't known to the world before, he is well on his way now.

Yarosh shot to fame overnight, literally, after the Russian news site Lifenews claimed his business card was found at the scene of a deadly shoot-out at a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed outrage over the attack, saying it was a "provocation," which showed that Kyiv was not implementing the agreement struck this week in Geneva that called for a de-escalation of the crisis.

Russian media blamed the attack on Ukrainian nationalists, providing the business card as evidence.

Right Sector has denied any involvement in the shoot-out, in which at least three people were killed.

In an interview with Ukraine's Channel 5 television station, Right Sector spokesman Artem Skoropadskyy said the Kremlin "staged an act of provocation." He also noted that the business cards were reportedly found in "completely burned-out vehicles," a claim he said was "completely absurd."

Whatever the case, an Internet meme was quickly born, with mocking images of Yarosh's black-and red business card bearing his name, phone number, and e-mail address being tied to many of the world's biggest mysteries.

The meme eventually earned itself its own Twitter account and a search hashtag #ВизиткаЯроша with numerous tweets and retweets posted in several different languages.

We compiled some of the better examples:


Alexander Fodorov: Yanukovych didn't return because now you need Yarosh's business card to enter the Ukrainian border.

Paul Bardar: JK Rowling has begun writing a new book: Harry Potter and Yarosh's Business Card

Feeling depressed? Anxious? Lonely? Yarosh's business card will help you! Say "no" to depression!

Ilya Ogurtsov: It's known that Doctor Who uses Yarosh's business card to get anywhere he wants.
-- Farangis Najibullah

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Written by RFE/RL editors and correspondents, Transmission serves up news, comment, and the odd silly dictator story. While our primary concern is with foreign policy, Transmission is also a place for the ideas -- some serious, some irreverent -- that bubble up from our bureaus. The name recognizes RFE/RL's role as a surrogate broadcaster to places without free media. You can write us at transmission+rferl.org

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