Beness Aijo

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Beness Aijo
Native name Бенес Айо
Born (1979-06-08) 8 June 1979 (age 45)
Rēzekne, Latvian SSR
Nationality Latvia
Ethnicity Afro-Russian
Education Master of Biology, Master of Medical Microbiology
Alma mater University of Latvia
Birkbeck, University of London
Occupation Biologist, journalist
Organization Korean Friendship Association
Known for far left political activism
Political party Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist)
Movement Movement in solidarity with Palestine
2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine

Beness Aijo (Russian: Бенес Айо, born 8 June 1979 in Rēzekne, Latvian SSR) is a UK-based Latvian citizen and an activist of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist), and the Korean Friendship Association-UK. Beness has participated in many actions in solidarity with Palestine. He was active in the Crimean crisis and the pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine and is currently active in the War in the Donets basin. Beness has been arrested multiple times and tried for his political activities.

Biography

Beness Aijo was born in Rēzekne. His father is Ugandan and his mother is Russian. He studied biology at the University of Latvia.[1]

On 7 May 2005 Beness organized action against the visit of George W. Bush in Latvia. He was arrested during the action.[2][3]

In 2005 Beness was arrested and accused of calling for the overthrow of the political system[4] and subsequently went on hunger strike in prison.[5] He was released from prison after 14 days.[6][7]

Beness left Latvia and moved to the United Kingdom.[8] He studied Medical Microbiology at the University of London, Birkbeck. He played an active role in political rallies in the UK, where he was involved with the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) and attended pro-Palestinian marches.

In 2013 Beness was in Palestine where he took part in actions against the Israeli government.[9] From May-June 2013 he was in Palestine for one month. He participated in the international movement in support of Palestine, in which he assisted Palestinians in resisting Israeli authorities. While in Palestine Beness received medical training in the field.[10]

On 14 September 2013 in Moscow Beness participated in the congress of the political party The Other Russia.[11]

On 19 November 2013 Beness participated in London in a direct action in memory of Aleksandr Dolmatov.[12][13] On 29 November 2013 he organized in The Hague further direct action in memory of Dolmatov. Beness was arrested[14][15][16] and spent six weeks in Dutch prison.[17]

In 2014 Beness departed for the self-declared Republic of Crimea.[18] He was arrested in Donetsk on 1 April 2014 for "preparation of an armed coup to overthrow the government and to undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine".[19][20] He was deported from Ukraine to the United Kingdom.[21]

In May 2014 Beness despite the ban from entering the country for three years, nevertheless tried to cross into Ukraine together with another two activists. He was detained by the Ukrainian Border Guard, and deported to Latvia where he was detained by the Security Police and the State Police at Riga Airport. Beness made claims he had been tortured and beaten by the Ukrainian National Guard.

On 16 May the Riga Central District Court ordered Beness taken into custody and the Security Police commenced criminal prosecution for incitement to violently overthrow the government of Latvia, to change the political system, and to liquidate Latvian national independence.[22] Beness has participated in several demonstrations in Riga since, including the 15 August demonstration against Latvia's Foreign Policy towards Russia and to call for the dismissal of Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs.[23]

Beness is currently wanted in Latvia on charges of sedition and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.[24] He is currently fighting as a part of the self-declared Luhansk People's Army.

References

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External links

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