James Scott Rhys Anderson convicted of ‘mercenary actions’ and a ‘terrorist act’, courtroom 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 courtroom has mentioned.
James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, was convicted of “mercenary actions” and a “terrorist act” after a three-day closed navy trial in Kursk, the courtroom press service for the area mentioned on Wednesday.
Anderson, who was reportedly captured in November whereas taking part in Ukraine’s cross-border offensive in Kursk, pleaded responsible to the fees in opposition to him, the press service mentioned.
Below 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, based on the press service.
Footage launched by the courtroom 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 costs.
“Below worldwide legislation, prisoners of struggle can’t be prosecuted for taking part in hostilities,” a spokesperson mentioned.
“We demand that Russia respect these obligations, together with these beneath the Geneva Conventions, and cease utilizing prisoners of struggle for political and propaganda functions.”
In 2022, a courtroom within the Russian-occupied Donetsk area sentenced two British residents and a Moroccan to demise for performing as international mercenaries and partaking in “terrorist” actions.
The three males have been later launched as a part of a prisoner trade brokered by Saudi Arabia.
Talking shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, then-Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned greater than 20,000 folks from 52 international locations had volunteered to combat for Kyiv.
