The Helsinki District Court docket sentenced Russian neo-Nazi mercenary Yan Petrovsky to life in jail for battle crimes dedicated in Ukraine, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported on March 14.
Petrovsky, co-leader of the Rusich paramilitary unit, was convicted of battle crimes in Luhansk Oblast on Sept. 5, 2014, throughout Russia’s invasion of Donbas.
Prosecutors offered video proof exhibiting him ordering and taking part within the execution of Ukrainian troopers.
Petrovsky denied all accusations, however the court docket ruled that the video recordings offered enough proof of his involvement.
Rusich, a infamous Russian neo-Nazi group, has documented and revealed proof of its personal war crimes, together with torture and extrajudicial killings.
One of many 5 prices in opposition to him was dismissed.
Ukraine had requested Petrovsky’s extradition, however a Finnish court docket ruled on Dec. 8, 2023, that he couldn’t be despatched to Ukraine, citing issues over jail circumstances below the European Conference on Human Rights.
The Rusich unit, linked to Russia’s Wagner Group, has a protracted historical past of brutality. Co-founder Alexey Milchakov gained notoriety for publishing pictures of animal cruelty and overtly celebrating battle crimes.
Petrovsky has been below EU and U.S. sanctions since 2022.
Putin still seeks control over Ukraine despite US peace efforts, WP reports
Some officials believe that even if Russia agrees to a temporary truce, Moscow will use the pause to rearm, violate the agreement, and create provocations to blame on Ukraine.
