Ukraine’s prosecutor launches criminal case against Wagner chief

Putin-ally Prigozhin leads a mercenary power of hundreds, together with ex-convicts, within the Ukraine conflict.

Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, July 4, 2017 [File: Sergey Ilnitsky/Pool/AFP]

Ukraine’s prosecutor common is launching a prison case in opposition to the Russian head and founding father of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

In line with an announcement on Telegram, Prigozhin, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is accused of the “encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine” and “waging an aggressive conflict”.

The assertion stated fighters who fled the group “won't keep away from accountability”.

“Prosecutors have already interrogated two such fighters who're within the EU. An investigation into the involvement in conflict crimes of one other PMK member, who's in Norway beneath means,” the assertion stated.

Norwegian police are at present interrogating former Wagner group commander Andrey Medvedev, who fled from Russia to Norway final month after preventing in Ukraine.

Earlier this week, Medvedev advised the Reuters information company that he was talking out in opposition to the Wagner group to make sure perpetrators have been delivered to justice.

“Medvedev gives the look that he desires to proceed to say extra” about his time with Wagner, the police have stated.

Safety preparations have additionally been made for Medvedev’s security, “each seen and non-visible” measures, they added, with out giving specifics.

One other former Wagner fighter, Marat Gabidullin, is known to be in search of asylum in France.

Medvedev crossed into Norway from neighbouring Russia on January 13, on the lookout for shelter within the Nordic nation [Gulagu.Net/Handout via Reuters]

The beforehand shadowy group has taken centre stage through the invasion of Ukraine and is related to the bloody battle for Bakhmut within the east of the nation.

Late in January, america designated Russia’s Wagner mercenary group as a “transnational prison organisation”, piling strain on the personal military that has recruited tens of hundreds of Russian prisoners to combat in Ukraine.