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To the Russian, pro-Russian, and pro-Yanukovych media, Right Sector was a neo-Nazi movement, and provocative neo-Nazi imagery was indeed employed by some – not all – activists of Right Sector. But the consensus structure made Right Sector an increasingly inclusive movement; in the second half of the Euromaidan protests, it was joined by activists of various ethnic backgrounds. Around 40 percent of the movement comprised ethnic Russians or Russian speakers.[7] Right Sector seemed to be a disciplined and efficient fighting unit – one of several, but one that attracted many a young protester.
However, Right Sector had another aspect, one that was hidden from outside observers: behind the scenes, political manipulation was taking place. Right Sector’s leadership included many members of UNA-UNSO, who had long been directly or indirectly involved in pro-Yanukovych and pro-government “political technology” projects. PU was also involved in dubious activities ranging from attacks on Asian merchants, to intimidating Asian and African students, to illegal seizures of businesses (reyderske zakhoplennya). PU also provided paid security services to the demonstrations and protests of other political forces. In the Kyiv region, PU activists were involved – along with pro-Yanukovych politicians – in blocking observation of local elections, land-lease schemes, disrupting social and anti-government protests, and so on.
This is not to say that the whole of Right Sector was a fake movement or was part of “political technology” in the service of Yanukovych’s regime. However, during the protests and the revolution, it seems likely that, on several occasions, Right Sector activists deliberately attacked the police to provoke a violent response towards other protesters.
After the revolution, Right Sector gradually distanced itself from some of its more dubious elements. In spring 2014, the movement expelled the neo-Nazi groupuscule, White Hammer, and parted ways with PU. Later, it also lost many members of the UNA-UNSO.
full: http://euromaidanpress.com/2015/06/24/spectre-of-ukrainian-fascism-information-wars-political-manipulation-and-reality/
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