James Scott Rhys Anderson convicted of ‘mercenary actions’ and a ‘terrorist act’, court docket press service says.
A British man who was captured by Russia whereas combating for Ukraine has been sentenced to 19 years in jail, a Russian court docket has stated.
James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, was convicted of “mercenary actions” and a “terrorist act” after a three-day closed navy trial in Kursk, the court docket press service for the area stated on Wednesday.
Anderson, who was reportedly captured in November whereas collaborating in Ukraine’s cross-border offensive in Kursk, pleaded responsible to the fees in opposition to him, the press service stated.
Beneath the phrases of his sentence, Anderson will spend 5 years in jail earlier than being transferred to a penal colony to serve out the rest of his time period, in line with the press service.
Footage launched by the court docket confirmed Anderson nodding silently after the ruling was translated for him.
The UK’s Overseas and Commonwealth Workplace condemned Anderson’s sentence on what it described as false fees.
“Beneath worldwide regulation, prisoners of battle can’t be prosecuted for collaborating in hostilities,” a spokesperson stated.
“We demand that Russia respect these obligations, together with these beneath the Geneva Conventions, and cease utilizing prisoners of battle for political and propaganda functions.”
In 2022, a court docket within the Russian-occupied Donetsk area sentenced two British citizens and a Moroccan to death for appearing as international mercenaries and partaking in “terrorist” actions.
The three males have been later launched as a part of a prisoner alternate brokered by Saudi Arabia.
Talking shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, then-Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated greater than 20,000 folks from 52 international locations had volunteered to fight for Kyiv.
