The Ministry of Defense and the General Staff deny all speculation of the assassination of a member of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) by the Russians two days ago in Ndélé, the capital of the Bamingui-Bangoran prefecture, located 648 km northeast of Bangui.
Furthermore, Igor, the interpreter for the Russian forces, who was allegedly assassinated, has reassured that he is alive and currently at Camp de Roux in Bangui. He has also completely rejected any claims that he is a FACA soldier.
Two days ago, a publication was shared on the social media platform Facebook, and it was relayed by a Central African online news site, Corbeau News Centrafrique. According to the caption: “A FACA soldier and interpreter for Russian mercenaries was coldly shot dead in Ndélé.”
Since Sunday, rumors have been circulating about the assassination of the alleged soldier Igor, a Russian interpreter who was supposedly suspected of treason, severely beaten, and expected to be taken back to Bangui. However, this alarmist information is false and should be approached with caution.
This information has sparked strong reactions and scandalous interpretations online, prompting the Association of Central African Fact-checkers (AFC) to verify the content and uncover the true version of events. While suspicions of assassination have been suggested by some internet users, pages, and news sites like Corbeau News, no tangible evidence of the assassination of the individual named Igor has been found, either in Ndélé or by the Russians, on Sunday, April 17, 2022.
Contacted by AFC, the Ministry of Defense, through its spokesperson Firmin AMALOMALO, denied having any information regarding the assassination of a member of the Central African Armed Forces by the Russian forces, nor the death of a soldier who was allegedly shot in any confrontation.
“I clarify that if such an incident occurred, the Ministry should have been informed in advance to take necessary measures. The death of a FACA member that occurred a few days ago was due to an overdose of traditional medicine given by his fellow soldier while he was suffering from malaria,” he informed our editorial team.
As part of the verification process, we also contacted the General Staff of the Armed Forces. Hugues Dangré, the communications officer at the General Staff, also denied the rumor: “I am not aware of this assassination rumor. No FACA member has been killed by the Russians.”
Who is the Alleged Soldier Igor, and What Are the True Facts?
Reached by phone by AFC regarding the allegations that he had been tied up and then assassinated, Igor Alain Bissavoulou, the Russian interpreter, reassured that he is alive and currently at Camp de Roux. He admitted that he made a mistake by getting involved in an issue that did not concern him, which could have led to a worse situation. “It was a misunderstanding that arose, in which I was involved. I was released without any harm after lengthy, fruitful discussions.”
He denied being tied up and beaten to death on the way to Bangui, saying, “I was only tied at the hands with a rope when arriving at Kaga Bandoro. No one touched me because I have been working as an interpreter with my employers, the Russians, in the Central African Republic.”
“I would like to clarify that I have been an interpreter for about a year and three to four months since January 2021. However, I am neither a soldier nor a member of the Central African Armed Forces. I have never used or handled a weapon in my life, as claimed in that publication.”
“In 2018, I was a cook for the Russians. It was from there that I learned the Russian language. I was still a student, but I had to abandon my studies once I learned the language and pursued my career as an interpreter, mainly for the Russian language, as my profession.”
Igor shared this information with us via WhatsApp on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 9:33 PM, sending us his photo to confirm that he is alive and currently at Camp de Roux, and his family is aware of his presence in Bangui.
By Michael NDAMOYEN / AFC
Do you find information or images suspicious? Contact our editorial team at 00236 74 02 15 70 / 75 81 61 38 / 75 38 11 73, or email us at [email protected].
