White Venadian Liberation Movement
| White Venadian Liberation Movement | |
|---|---|
| Белавенадскае вызваленчы рух | |
| File:WVLM.png | |
| Leaders | Stanislaŭ Vaytsiushkevich (current) |
| Dates of operation | 1950–present |
| Active regions | Vesan Union, Venadia |
| Ideology | Far-right White Venadian nationalism Secessionism Christian extremism |
| Battles and wars | insurgency in Vesan Union and Venadia |
The White Venadian Liberation Movement is a violent seccessionist movement operating in the White Venadia ethnolinguistic region of the Vesan Union and Venadia. It aims to achieve complete seccession and independence of the region from both countries through the means of armed resistance. It is also often claimed to be a far-right and clerical fascist organization, stressing extreme White Venadian nationalism, tradition and Christian identity. Involved in armed insurgency against the Vesan and Venadian governments since the end of the Great War, it is classified as a terrorist organization by most governments for its attacks against civilians and government officials. In the past years, the organization was significantly culled by police efforts, but continues pursuing small-scale terror as well as issuing public statements. It is believed to have 10,000 members at most as of 2015. The leader of the WVLM is Stanislaŭ Vaytsiushkevich, who is most wanted by international police for staging of multiple terrorist acts.
Notable terrorist acts
- In 1973 the WVLM staged a series of bombings and attacks on hotels and embassies in the Venadian capital of Venagorod, claiming the lives of hundreds of people. It is the largest terrorist act in Venadian history to date.
- The WVLM committed a protracted series of attacks and bombings on Vesan police stations and small governmental offices in the Republic of Ostlitvinia-West Venadia and the Republic of Surlitvinia-Nordpolonia throughout the 1980s, killing and wounding hundreds of policemen and officials.
- In 1995 a lone wolf gunman opened fire in a Pagan temple in the town of Dzyatlava during a service, killing 11 and wounding 24 worshipers. The shooter was killed by a municipal road policeman who arrived at the sounds of gunfire. An investigation proved WPLM's responsibility for the attack.
- In 2002 Gerasim Lipov, member of the Venadian parliament was kidnapped and held as a hostage and later executed by the WVLM when the Venadian government refused to negotiate.
- In 2009 a Vesair jet crashed on a domestic flight from Lyda to Kalnaspils, resulting in the death of all 410 people onboard. WVLM was suspected and the organization's leadership took responsibility for the catastrophe. However, the following investigation involving the highest eschelons of the government failed to prove a connection with WVLM.