The 22-year-old British who fought for Ukraine was sentenced to a long 19-year prison conviction by a Russian court on Wednesday in the south-western Kursk circuit. He was accused of terrorism and acting as a abroad militant. The detained man, identified as James Scott Rhys Anderson, was named a mercenary by the Russian authorities, although it is unclear whether he fought in the ranks of a private company or possibly Ukrainian national armed forces.
He was detained in November, reportedly in Russia, fighting on the side of Ukraine as part of an invasion of Kursk, which lasted since August last year. Anderson pleaded guilty, and the British Embassy pledged to give him "any possible support" – but most likely after the UK government has confessed, small can be done – but for a possible future prisoner exchange agreement.
Given that Russia recognized Anderson as a mercenary, he was not guaranteed the protection of prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention and was so charged under the Russian Criminal Code. He is expected to initially spend 5 years in a local prison, after which he will be transferred to spend the remaining 14 years in a maximum safety prison.
When it was first captured more than 3 months ago, the movie “proof of life” was widely circulated on social media: In a movie published on Sunday on pro-war Russian channels Telegram man dressed in combat uniform portrays himself as 22-year-old James Scott Rhys Anderson of the United Kingdom. A man, speaking with an English accent, says he served as a whistleblower in the British Army until 2023, before joining the global Legion in Ukraine to fight Russia.
In a video that has not been verified, the captured man appears with tied hands. It is unclear erstwhile the video was recorded. Anderson showed up in court, looking skinny after months in prison awaiting trial...
Russian investigators stated that Anderson illegally entered Russia in November as a associate of an armed group committing "criminal acts against civilians". However, the exact circumstances of his capture stay unclear. At the beginning of the more than 3 years of conflict, the UK authorities, including Liz Truss at the time, powerfully encouraged citizens to leave and fight on behalf of Ukraine. Since then, about 20,000 foreigners from over 50 countries have come to Ukraine to help. However, these authoritative calls from Western officials have stopped, as Ukraine's chances on the battlefield have declined and the Russians have continued to advance on the front lines.
British 'Mercenary' Captured Inside Russian territory Given 19-Years In Prison | ZeroHedge
