MOSCOW, September 30 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) – Russian investigators have opened an extremism case against leaders of Right Sector, a far-right Ukrainian group banned in Russia, RAPSI learnt in the Investigative Committee’s press office on Friday.

The criminal case was launched against Right Sector leaders Dmitry Yarosh and Andrei Tarasenko, the group heads Andrei Stempitsky, Valery Voronov, Artem Skoropadsky and others under an article on the extremist organization’s activity, the statement reads.

Investigators claim that the organization’s aim is justifying violent use based on political, racial, national and religious motives.

From 2014 till present, leaders and activists of Right Sector have been regularly planning and committing crimes against Russia, Russian residents and diplomatic establishments in Ukraine, according to investigation.

Over 5,000 militants are members of the group including citizens of Ukraine, Russia and other countries. Branches of the organization were created in some countries of Europe and North America.

Right Sector is a Ukrainian association of radical nationalist organizations. In January and February 2014, they clashed with police and seized administrative buildings in Kiev. Since April 2014, Right Sector has been involved in fighting the protest movement in eastern Ukraine.

In November 2014, Russia’s Supreme Court declared Right Sector an extremist group and banned its activity in Russia. The Investigative Committee has already opened a criminal case against Right Sector leader Dmitry Yarosh for the alleged incitement of terrorism.

In January 2015, Right Sector was added to the Russian register of prohibited organizations.