Commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps explained whether he organized the attack on Idrak Mirzalizade

Idrak Mirzalizade (left) and Denis Kapustin. Photo: screenshots from TOK and "Vdud" videos

Commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) Denis Kapustin, in an interview with Yuri Dud, spoke about whether he organized the attack on stand-up comedian Idrak Mirzalizade in 2021.

In 2021, Mirzalizade, in the humorous program "Razgony," talked about the difficulties of renting an apartment in Moscow, because "they don't rent to non-Russians," and also joked about Russians and a dirty mattress.

«My brother and I were throwing out a shit-stained mattress, and there was a shit-stained mattress in this apartment. The previous tenants, by the way, were Russians. Apparently, Russians smear themselves with shit and go to sleep». After that, the comedian added: «The French are a great nation and can afford to be nationalists. Yes, it's bad to be a nationalist, but the French can afford it (…) And who is this? Some Russian Pavel looks at me with a claim».

Later, a fragment of his performance was criticized by the TV channel "Tsargrad" and journalist Vladimir Solovyov. And Kapustin wrote a post with the following content:

«Idrak Mirzalizade… phew, barely pronounced. And it's clear (…) an arrogant a**hole, unfunny (…) clown. There's absolutely nothing to add to that. It's already a good tradition when all sorts of trash come to Russia, flourish here, and then douse dear Russian compatriots with poison and shit».

A few weeks after the publication, as Dud mentioned, Kapustin posted about how his "concerned subscribers" attacked Idrak.

«Did you organize this attack?» — asked Yuri Dud.

«I cannot say that I organized it, but I called for a video to be sent to me. (…) I believe the joke was unfunny. I believe it was offensive and disrespectful. That's why I said I would pay 50,000 rubles (about $700. — NN) to whoever shows me either a video of Idrak apologizing, or a video of… the shit, the Russian shit, that he mentioned in his feuilleton, with which, I don't know, they will douse him or do something,» — Kapustin replied.

A few days later, unknown assailants attacked Mirzalizade near a metro station. According to Kapustin, the attackers themselves contacted him: «Two guys write to me, send a video: "Here, somewhere there, we hit him on the head."» At the same time, the perpetrators refused the promised money, stating that they acted out of «ideological reasons».

After the attack, a correspondence ensued between Kapustin and Mirzalizade, lasting several days. Kapustin claims that he tried to convey his position that the stand-up comedian «acted incorrectly, unworthily, and disrespectfully towards the public, the country that welcomed him».

«We had a long, normal discussion. A normal, objective discussion. I conveyed my position. I think he heard me. Whether he agreed or disagreed, I don't know. (…) But it was without swearing, without all of that. (…) I started by saying: "Did they really hit you near such and such a station now?"».

He says: «Why, who's asking?». I say: «I'm asking, I posted all of this on my channel, I wrote "50,000 rubles"». And then we went into a discussion. He started explaining to me why it was a joke».

To Yuri Dud's question, why it wasn't possible to simply write to Idrak and try to resolve the conflict with words, Kapustin replied: «What would he have done then? He later said from the stage that he didn't believe he was wrong and wouldn't apologize to anyone».

According to Kapustin, it was the attack that made his figure significant in Idrak's eyes:

«This was the trigger for our communication. Well, let's imagine: you're a hypothetically popular stand-up comedian and some guy with 50 Instagram followers just writes to you and starts making demands. (…) I was an absolute nobody in his eyes at that moment. And would he react or apologize? (…) Then the conversation wouldn't have even started, you understand?»

To Dud's question about Kapustin's emotions regarding people acting on his calls, the man replied:

«I understand what this means. I am taken seriously. There are people for whom my opinion is highly authoritative. There are people who are willing to risk something — an administrative fine or criminal prosecution — in order to do something that I consider important».

According to him, those people who previously followed his calls online are now coming to Ukraine and joining the RVC under his direct command.

Denis Kapustin was born in 1984 in Moscow. When he was 17, his family moved to Cologne.

Denis was a fan of Moscow CSKA, a far-right activist, and engaged in combat sports. He supported Maidan and has lived in Ukraine since 2017.

In 2022, he founded the Russian Volunteer Corps in Ukraine. In Russia, he was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment.

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