Vadim Titushko during the dispersal of the rally
Twenty-two-year-old Vadim Titushko gave his first interview after a year of silence. He has dramatically changed his position on what happened a year and a half ago. He now coaches children at a sports club in Bila Tserkva, helps with fundraising for the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), and is studying to become a political scientist (part-time). A correspondent from the MN24 News Agency (MN24.com.ua) spoke with Vadim. The conversation was quite frank, harsh, and somewhat provocative. Nevertheless, we are publishing the first part of the interview, unedited.
Corr. (MN24.com.ua) — Vadim, tell me, is it difficult for you to come to terms with the dubious popularity that has literally fallen on your head.
V.T. — You know, I was immediately incredibly angry. There were so many unpleasant things connected with it. There was even a woman who wanted to profit from this story—her name was Oksana (Oksana Skoda — ed.), and then she simply dumped me. I started getting used to it about six months ago, I've gotten used to it. I can even joke about it. At times, it was really hurtful. Now—not anymore.
Corr. (MN24.com.ua) — Why did you decide to give this interview? Do you want to avoid being forgotten?
V.T.: Not at all (smiles). I'd rather that young people don't repeat my mistakes. The recent events near the Rada, when some young men killed others... literally forced me to speak up.
Corr. (MN24.com.ua) — About what exactly? You didn't want to reveal the topic until the meeting itself.
V.T. — You know, the main condition was uncensored publication. The text, as is. I contacted not only your website, but other publications as well. I wrote to Korrespondent, the newspaper Segodnya, and even contacted the program Podrobnosti. I also tried to contact Shuster. For some reason, no one wanted it. Then the editor of one of the major websites said they thought it was a political hit. They wanted money... Imagine, I'm telling the truth and paying journalists. I even considered giving up and never having anything to do with "Your Brother" again. They used to run around in droves, take photos, pry into my soul, but then the trend passed—no one was interested. But I have to speak out!
Corr. (MN24.com.ua) — If you have to, speak out!
V.T.: I never wanted to defend Yanukovych or his "family." But I want to point out that Yanukovych didn't give the orders or hand out money for killing people, he didn't intimidate, and he didn't pay for "dispersing riots" (the interviewer asked to leave the expression as is. It's difficult to understand what was meant – ed.).
Vadim Titushko
Corr. (MN24.com.ua) — Many people understand this already, practically everyone does. You didn't surprise anyone with anything here.
V.T.: Okay, I'll say more. Punish them to the fullest extent of the law, if necessary, at the Hague Tribunal... We need to target the people who are now returning to power. I can testify in court, under oath, that current representatives of various political forces ordered the beatings of journalists and activists, and even carried out torture.
Corr. (MN24.com.ua) — Different? Which ones, excuse me, if you could be more specific.
V.T. — Vadik Stolar was partly responsible for recruiting guys to disperse protesters and carry out provocations in Kyiv. Fursa and Stolar personally, there are photos. Now, Stolar's men are in power somewhere in the capital, and in Obolon, they still haven't paid the guys. And all over Ukraine, they recruited people from Zakharchenko (who promised complete security and police protection), Klymenko, and Lyovochkin. The latter is in power and has his own deputies in the new Rada, while Klymenko is being dropped. What's changed?
Corr. (MN24.com.ua) — Evidence is needed, then it will change.
V.T. — There was evidence. I know that a dozen guys from Belka (Bila Tserkva, — editor's note) and Uman were interrogated three times and had their statements taken; they even wanted to jail one. So what? They told everyone, but none of the guys who started the whole mess were charged with a crime. Evidence, you say... I know guys from Dnipro who testified against Vilkul; he's supposedly the mayor there now. Everyone knows him in the city and the region; he looks like a Latent, but he's a show-off, riding a bike with Russians around Crimea. So, Vilkul personally spoke to the locals in 2014 and promised mountains of gold, new gyms, and serious support for sports in Dnipro if they went to Kyiv to wipe out the fascists. Three kids, aged 18 to 22, never returned to Dnipro after that trip. They buried them somewhere, and no one from Vilkul and his gang even visited the boys at home. They say it's meat for them, evidence... But who's looking for them, who needs them anyway? It's all lubricated, after all...
Corr. (MN24.com.ua) — And yet, if the police had been provided with the facts... Believe me, media coverage plus inquiries to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office would have been effective.
V.T. — Not in our country. The latest example: Odessa. Late 2013 - early 2014. The same Vilkul approaches a local authority figure, Suren Sardaryan. This man openly visits sports clubs, universities, and even schools... Negotiates the delivery of, pardon the expression, meat to Kyiv. Anyone who refuses is expelled from the university, or harassed. About three and a half thousand people went. I still keep in touch with the "foreman," Zheka "Moroz." He and other guys were summoned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and instead of interrogating them, they were given a piece of paper from Suren Sardaryan and his Armenian friend Avakov, clearly laying out what to say and how. They forbade mentioning Suren's participation in the gathering of "the boys" in Kyiv under threat of criminal charges; they were told to blame everything on those who had long ago fled. Just think, if those who openly carried out bloody massacres have a bloody cover, like Sardanyan in the person of Avakov, then what are we even talking about...
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The second part of the interview will appear after approval from Vadim Titushko in the near future.
Vadim Titushko
Help. In Bila Tserkva, the Titushko family home is familiar to almost every passerby, a landmark of sorts. "They live on Shevchenko Street. Vadik lives in the same house with his parents, and across the street, his grandmother lives," local residents say. As a reminder, Vadim Sergeyevich Titushko, a member of the Bila Tserkva sports club "Budo," became "famous" for his public flogging of journalists at an anti-fascist rally of the Party of Regions in Kyiv. The Titushko name eventually became a household name—"titushki" came to be used to describe all young men in sportswear, willing to participate in provocations, fights, and brawls for a small fee.
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