The prosecution and death sentences handed out to two British and one Moroccan national fighting alongside Ukrainian troops contravenes the Geneva Conventions.
So honestly I don't really know anything about the laws of war and whatnot, but can Ukraine really just declare willy-nilly that random foreign nationals showing up are part of their military? What's to stop them from doing that for genuine, fight-for-cash mercenaries?
Yeah. Why not? You can induct anyone you want in to the military. As far as I know they're in regular military units, fighting with issued equipment, getting paid whatever the pay rate is, subject whatever Ukraine has for a military law code. The US has a lot of soldiers who aren't US citizens. The French have the Foreign Legion. I'm sure other nations have other examples.
Honestly not sure what Russia is even going for with these trials. Why these random dudes? If they had a bunch of Azov guys covered in swastikas it'd make sense and fit in to their narrative, but idk why they're bothering with rando brits and Moroccans. Is it to demonstrate that Russia views Donetsk as legitimate? Is it to discourage foreign fighters? Idk why you'd even bother to discourage foreign fighters, there's such a small group of them relative to Ukrainians fighting.
Maybe someone will right a book about it some day.
So honestly I don't really know anything about the laws of war and whatnot, but can Ukraine really just declare willy-nilly that random foreign nationals showing up are part of their military? What's to stop them from doing that for genuine, fight-for-cash mercenaries?
Yeah. Why not? You can induct anyone you want in to the military. As far as I know they're in regular military units, fighting with issued equipment, getting paid whatever the pay rate is, subject whatever Ukraine has for a military law code. The US has a lot of soldiers who aren't US citizens. The French have the Foreign Legion. I'm sure other nations have other examples.
Honestly not sure what Russia is even going for with these trials. Why these random dudes? If they had a bunch of Azov guys covered in swastikas it'd make sense and fit in to their narrative, but idk why they're bothering with rando brits and Moroccans. Is it to demonstrate that Russia views Donetsk as legitimate? Is it to discourage foreign fighters? Idk why you'd even bother to discourage foreign fighters, there's such a small group of them relative to Ukrainians fighting.
Maybe someone will right a book about it some day.
the author suggests meteing put these sentences will be used to do prisoner exchanges with the dudes Ukraine prosecuted for war crimes
That makes sense. Though I wonder how far out on a limb Ukraine will go for brits and Moroccans.