Finnish prosecutors connected Thursday pressed charges against Russian nationalist combatant Vojislav Torden, accusing him of having committed warfare crimes successful eastbound Ukraine successful 2014.
Torden, formerly known arsenic Yan Petrovsky, was detained astatine Helsinki Airport successful July 2023 connected suspicion of committing panic crimes successful Ukraine. In February, a Finnish tribunal handed him a suspended situation condemnation of 40 days connected abstracted charges of violating EU sanctions by entering the state nether an alias.
Ukrainian authorities person sought Torden’s apprehension since 2016, accusing him of helping pro-Moscow rebels successful eastbound Ukraine arsenic a subordinate of the far-right militant radical Rusich betwixt 2014 and 2015. Finland’s Supreme Court earlier refused to extradite him to Ukraine.
On Thursday, prosecutors successful the Nordic state announced they were charging Torden with having committed 5 warfare crimes successful eastbound Ukraine. According to them, those crimes led to the deaths of 22 Ukrainian soldiers and the wounded of 4 others.
“In 3 of the cases Ukrainian soldiers were killed oregon wounded and the 2 different charges are astir immoderate different benignant of breach of the laws of war,” Deputy Prosecutor General Jukka Rappe told AFP.
Finland’s National Prosecution Authority said successful a connection the charges were besides related to actions “contrary to the laws of war... and the attraction of wounded and killed force soldiers.” Torden has denied the allegations.
According to Finnish authorities media, the lawsuit against Torden marks the first time someone successful the Nordic state has been charged with warfare crimes committed successful Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation completed a broad probe, which was launched past December, accusing Torden of respective warfare crimes successful the autumn of 2014 successful eastbound Ukraine.
That probe progressive adjacent practice with Ukrainian prosecutors and information services, arsenic good arsenic Europol, the International Criminal Court and Eurojust — the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation.
Finland recognizes what is called “universal jurisdiction,” a ineligible rule allowing it to bring charges connected its ungraded for suspected crimes committed anyplace successful the world.
A day for the proceedings has yet to beryllium set, but Deputy Prosecutor Rappe said helium expects it to statesman successful November.
AFP contributed reporting.
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