Yarosh shot to fame overnight, literally, after the Russian news site Lifenews claimed his business card was found at the scene of a deadly shoot-out at a checkpoint manned by pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed outrage over the attack, saying it was a "provocation," which showed that Kyiv was not implementing the agreement struck this week in Geneva that called for a de-escalation of the crisis.
Russian media blamed the attack on Ukrainian nationalists, providing the business card as evidence.
Right Sector has denied any involvement in the shoot-out, in which at least three people were killed.
In an interview with Ukraine's Channel 5 television station, Right Sector spokesman Artem Skoropadskyy said the Kremlin "staged an act of provocation." He also noted that the business cards were reportedly found in "completely burned-out vehicles," a claim he said was "completely absurd."
Whatever the case, an Internet meme was quickly born, with mocking images of Yarosh's black-and red business card bearing his name, phone number, and e-mail address being tied to many of the world's biggest mysteries.
The meme eventually earned itself its own Twitter account and a search hashtag #ВизиткаЯроша with numerous tweets and retweets posted in several different languages.
We compiled some of the better examples:
— zhgun (@zhgun) April 20, 2014
Alexander Fodorov: Yanukovych didn't return because now you need Yarosh's business card to enter the Ukrainian border.
#Янукович не прилетел, потому что для пересечения украинской границы теперь нужна #ВизиткаЯроша
— Alexander Födorov (@skip_divided) April 20, 2014
sorry, can't get enough RT @nickson_9: #ВизиткаЯроша pic.twitter.com/caZzitJlwf
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) April 20, 2014
More lucky owners of Yarosh's business card in ukrpravda's selection: http://t.co/Ytrlh7ItZ7 |EMPR #ВизиткаЯроша pic.twitter.com/fZoP0UHmrC
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) April 20, 2014
The truth is out there. #ВизиткаЯроша #Ukraine #Sloviansk #Slovyansk #Slavyansk #UkraineInvasion #RussianSpring pic.twitter.com/uWSQU2qsxl
— Ukrainian Updates (@Ukroblogger) April 20, 2014
Oh, what have you got there? RT “@VoiceOfDonetsk: Ой... А что это у вас? #ВизиткаЯроша? pic.twitter.com/AgnAUjm3sH”
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) April 20, 2014
Paul Bardar: JK Rowling has begun writing a new book: Harry Potter and Yarosh's Business Card
Джоан Роулинг начинает писать новый роман: "Гарри Поттер и #ВизиткаЯроша"
— Paul Bardar (@paulbardar) April 20, 2014
Feeling depressed? Anxious? Lonely? Yarosh's business card will help you! Say "no" to depression!
тебе скучно? грустно? одиноко? #ВизиткаЯроша поможет тебе! скажи 'нет' депрессии
— Macedonian (@tryandsaveme) April 20, 2014
Ilya Ogurtsov: It's known that Doctor Who uses Yarosh's business card to get anywhere he wants.
Достоверно известно, что Доктор Кто использует #ВизиткаЯроша для того, чтобы проникнуть куда угодно. pic.twitter.com/oGbDmSClvj
— Ilya Ogurtsov (@Psykukumber) April 20, 2014
-- Farangis Najibullah
