Trial started against Swede in Donetsk

Trial started against Swede in Donetsk

Published: Less than 2 hours ago

full screen The Swedish man allegedly fought with Ukrainian soldiers in the defense of the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. Image from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Archive image. Photo: Press Office of the Russian Defense Ministry/AP/TT

The trial against five men, one of whom is Swedish, began on Monday in the Russian-occupied region of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, the AFP news agency reports with reference to Russian media.

“We note information that the Swedish citizen will be brought to trial in Donetsk on Monday, August 15. We are actively working on this case and are following up on the information available together with our embassies in Kyiv and Moscow. Prevailing circumstances in Ukraine make this work difficult,” the Foreign Ministry’s press service wrote to TT last week regarding the trial.

The five are accused of having fought as mercenaries. In addition to the Swede, a Croat and three Britons are on trial. Two British and one Moroccan citizen have previously been sentenced to death on the same charge.

Russian media reports that the next court hearing is scheduled for October.

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