A Defence Attaché with the Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria, Colonel Andrii Vasyliev, has known as for felony prosecution towards the management of the Russian Federation and a personal Army firm, Wagner PMC.
In keeping with Col. Vasyliev, the technique of the highest navy and political management of the Russian Federation in conducting hybrid warfare was based mostly on using non-public navy firms, of which the Wagner PMC is allegedly essentially the most culpable.
Vasyliev mentioned it was an undisguised indisputable fact that the corporate is headed by President Vladimir Putin’s closest affiliate, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
He mentioned the actions of the corporate occurred on the territory of Ukraine initially of the Russian occupation of Crimea and components of the japanese areas as a way to assist separatist regimes and native unlawful armed teams.
By this fashion, the territory of Ukraine become a type of “coaching floor” for the militants of the group and have become the start line for Russia’s export of “Wagnerians” overseas.
In keeping with him, Wagner’s involvement in armed conflicts in Africa and the Center-East was a well-established truth.
He mentioned presently there’s convincing proof of the actions of the “Wagnerians” in Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Mali and Syria, the place their essential operate was to increase the affect of Russia, allegedly destabilise the state of affairs within the respective areas, plunder pure assets, assist terrorist teams, terrorize opponents of the authorities supported by the federal government of the Russian Federation.
He accused the corporate of complete disdain of its members for minimal requirements of compliance with human rights, therapy of civilians and captured contributors in conflicts.
Col. Vasyliev mentioned, “Human rights organizations and UN establishments have repeatedly documented the information of the participation of the “Wagnerians” within the fee of warfare crimes and crimes towards humanity, similar to extrajudicial executions, torture, looting, unlawful deprivation of liberty.
“The concealment of the crimes of militants of personal navy firms by the Russian authorities is indicative. Even essentially the most brutal and horrible instances of the execution of prisoners recorded on video, during which members of personal navy firms are recognized, stay exterior the eye of the Russian regulation enforcement companies.
“Regardless of the Russian Federation’s worldwide obligations stemming from the European Conference on Human Rights and the Geneva Conventions of 1949, such crimes will not be correctly investigated. In consequence, members of personal navy firms really feel completely impunity, figuring out that the federal government of the Russian Federation won’t deliver them to justice.
“The participation of the “Wagnerians” in hostilities in japanese Ukraine throughout 2014-2022 absolutely corresponded to the Russian Federation’s coverage of non-recognition of the existence of an armed battle with Ukraine. Using “non-public firms” as a substitute of standard armed forces gave Russian politicians a cause to create the phantasm of Russia’s non-involvement within the warfare in Ukraine on the worldwide stage.
“In gentle of the occasions of 2022, there is no such thing as a doubt in Ukraine and its worldwide companions that the non-public navy firm “Wagner” is beneath the efficient management of Russia, given the political, financial and navy assist of this group and the overall integration of the corporate’s items into the Russian Armed Forces.
“The defiant coverage of protectionism of this group on the a part of the federal government of the Russian Federation is confirmed by the current, surprising for the worldwide group, unconcealed truth of recruiting individuals serving sentences for crimes in penitentiary establishments to the composition of the PEC. In trade for a pardon, these sentenced to imprisonment are supplied to hitch a personal navy firm as a way to additional take part in hostilities in Ukraine. In keeping with preliminary estimates, as of November 2022, the “Wagnerians” included no less than 23,000 convicts. It must be famous that the PMC has beforehand recruited to its ranks individuals with a felony previous, together with these with neo-Nazi views
“On the political degree, Ukraine additionally seeks official recognition by worldwide organizations and the worldwide group of the non-public navy firm “Wagner” as a terrorist group.”
