A Georgian citizen who fought for Ukraine was sentenced to a long term

A Russian court sentenced Georgian citizen Georgy Goglidze to nine years in prison. He was found guilty under the article on mercenarism (part 3 of article 359 of the Criminal Code).

According to the prosecution, in order to "participate in an armed conflict as a mercenary," Goglidze voluntarily "concluded a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine" in April 2023. He subsequently took part in military operations against the Russian Armed Forces.

Earlier, the independent human rights project "Memorial" stated that Georgian citizens Mamuka Gatsrelia, Georgy Chubetidze, and Georgy Goglidze, who were persecuted by Russia for serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, were recognized as political prisoners.

Mamuka Gatsrelia defended Mariupol as part of the International Legion. In May 2022, he was captured. On February 19, 2024, the Supreme Court of the "DPR" sentenced him to life imprisonment for "attempts on the lives of military personnel" of the Russian Federation and mercenarism. Georgy Chubetidze and Georgy Goglizde also fought in the ranks of the International Legion. In November 2023, they were captured near Kremennaya.

"The Geneva Convention for the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts does not recognize as mercenaries those who officially serve in the armed forces of one of the warring parties. All foreigners accused of mercenarism served under contract in official units of the Ukrainian army," Memorial notes.

According to human rights activists, none of the foreigners accused of mercenarism can be prosecuted for the very fact of participating in military action. According to international law, combatants detained during military action are considered prisoners of war. The latter, if they did not commit war crimes, cannot be subject to criminal prosecution.

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