MOSCOW (Reuters) – A British man captured fighting on the Ukrainian side in Russia’s Kursk region will face terrorism and mercenary charges that could see him jailed for years, Russian state investigators said on Thursday.
Moscow announced it November it had captured James Anderson, describing him as a former British soldier. Britain’s foreign minister, David Lammy, said at the time he was aware of the case and that London would do all it could to offer him assistance.
Russia’s Investigative Committee released video on Thursday showing a handcuffed Anderson dressed in a prison uniform with a shaven head, being brought into a room for questioning and confirming his name.
In a statement, it said he would face terrorism and mercenary charges for participating “in an armed conflict as a mercenary on the territory of the Russian Federation for financial remuneration”. It did not say how Anderson pleaded to the charges, some of which are punishable by up to 20 years in jail.
Ukrainian forces have occupied a pocket of territory in Russia’s Kursk region since launching a surprise incursion there in August last year. Russia has recaptured around two thirds of the territory so far and is battling for the rest.
The Investigative Committee, which is responsible for investigating major crimes, said Anderson had illegally crossed the Russian border from Ukraine in November.
While “armed with automatic small arms and explosive devices” he had intimidated the local population, caused significant property damage, destabilised the local authorities and committed unspecified criminal acts against the civilian population.
The investigators said they had gathered what they called “irrefutable evidence” of his guilt and that his case would be heard by a military court.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Peter Graff)
