Back Μπένες Άιγιο Greek 아이조 베네스 Korean Beness Aijo Latvian/Lettish Айо, Бенес Христоферович Russian Айо Бенес Христоферович Ukrainian
Benes Ayo | |
|---|---|
Бенес Айо | |
 Ayo in 2020 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 June 1979 Rēzekne, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Citizenship | |
| Political party | The Other Russia of E. V. Limonov |
| Other political affiliations |
|
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Political activist |
| Known for | National Bolshevik activism |
| Nickname | Black Lenin |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Russia
|
| Branch/service | Interbrigades |
| Years of service | 2014 2015–present |
| Battles/wars | |
Benes Khristoferovich Ayo (Russian: Бенес Христоферович Айо, Latvian: Beness Aijo; born 8 June 1979), also known by his nickname "Black Lenin"[1] (Russian: Чёрный Ленин), is a Latvian-born Russian political activist and soldier. He has been active in the National Bolshevik movement since 1998 and has been repeatedly arrested and imprisoned for his political activities in various countries.[2][3]
Born in the city of Rēzekne to a Russian mother and a Ugandan father, Ayo spent most of his early life in Latvia before moving to the United Kingdom to pursue his master's degree at Birkbeck College, University of London. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) during his time in London and participated in many of the party's demonstrations.
In 2014, Aijo travelled to Crimea to support the Russian annexation of the peninsula. He later participated in pro-Russian demonstrations in the Donbas before being arrested by Ukrainian authorities and deported to Latvia. Aijo fled Latvia in 2015 despite being under criminal investigation and police surveillance. He eventually made his way to the Luhansk People's Republic, where he joined The Other Russia's paramilitary group, the Interbrigades. He later received a passport from the Donetsk People's Republic, which he used to enter Russia in early 2020. The Russian government granted Ayo political asylum in October 2020 and Russian citizenship in December 2022. The Latvian government revoked Ayo's Latvian citizenship in response to the latter.
- ^ Matveeva, Anna (2017). Through Times of Trouble: Conflict in Southeastern Ukraine Explained from Within. Lexington Books. p. 231. ISBN 978-1498-5432-3-1.
Black Lenin (Aijo Beness), a Latvian citizen, a son of a Russian mother and a Ugandan father, and a member of Leftist Drugaya Rossia party in Russia and the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist–Leninist) ...
- ^ Айо Бенес — магистр биологии и профессор НБП
- ^ Геополитика с Айо Бенесом. Часть 1