On December 22, a farewell ceremony was held at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour for Stanislav Orlov, killed at the age of 44 and known as “Spaniard,” the founder of the Espanola brigade. According to the reporter, several thousand people attended. The line to enter stretched along the embankment, and many in the crowd wore symbols linking them to football fan groups or nationalist movements.
Most of those present were young supporters of Moscow clubs, including Spartak, CSKA, and Torpedo. Representatives of the Russian Community, Northern Man, Northern Tribune, Wagner PMC, Rusich sabotage group, and the 106th Guards Airborne Division were also at the church. Espanola itself, the 88th reconnaissance and sabotage brigade, had been disbanded earlier in October.
The funeral service was led by priest Pavel Ostrovsky. It lasted about half an hour and was accompanied by mourners crying. A civil memorial followed, with people approaching the coffin, saying their goodbyes, and kneeling before Orlov’s parents.
“He united those who seemed impossible to unite,” Father Pavel said in his sermon, calling Orlov “a true Russian warrior.”
The coffin was carried out by Orlov’s close associate, 37-year-old assault company commander Mikhail Turkanov, known as “Pitbull.” He publicly confirmed that Orlov had died in early December, but said he did not believe reports that he had been shot during detention. According to Turkanov, after two and a half weeks it was impossible to determine the circumstances of death from the body.
Turkanov also rejected rumors that Orlov had “1.5 billion” and denied allegations involving arms or drug trafficking. At the same time, he said Orlov had enemies within his own circle and added that, after the leader’s death, the former Espanola would merge with the Russian Community. Organizers did not disclose the burial site, but the report says Orlov was buried at Dyatlovskoye cemetery in the village of Dyatlovka in Balashikha.