Georgian citizen Nikolas Berianidze, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the "DPR", has been recognized as a political prisoner. This was reported by the independent human rights project "Memorial".

According to the Russian investigation, no later than 2016, Berianidze arrived in Ukraine and joined the Azov unit as a military instructor. In May 2022, Berianidze was captured by Russia. The verdict stated that he allegedly killed three Russian servicemen in battle.

On January 27, 2025, the Georgian citizen was sentenced to life imprisonment. Four months later, the appellate court issued a new guilty verdict, the content of which is unknown.

Nikolas Berianidze officially served in the armed forces of Ukraine. Let us recall that the Geneva Conventions do not recognize such people as mercenaries. The man served under contract and received remuneration at the level of the Ukrainian military.

"Nikolas Berianidze is not accused of war crimes. If he did kill Russian servicemen, he did so in a clash in which both he and they were combatants, and therefore a legitimate military target. In essence, he is being persecuted for the very fact of participating in military action. According to international law, such persecution is unacceptable, and combatants detained during military action are considered prisoners of war," the human rights activists noted.