Topline
The Justice Department filed charges this week against four Russian soldiers, alleging they abducted and threatened to execute a U.S. national during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—a first-of-its-kind war crimes case.
The Justice Department claims Russian soldiers abducted the American national from a Ukrainian … [+]
Key Facts
Suren Mkrtchyan and Dmitry Budnik, two commanding officers of Russian military units, and two lower-ranking soldiers whose last names are unknown, Valerii and Nazar, were charged with unlawful confinement, torture, inhuman treatment and conspiracy to commit war crimes, the Justice Department announced.
The four soldiers allegedly abducted a U.S. national—who was not named—from the Ukrainian village of Mylove in April 2022 before Russian soldiers illegally interrogated him over 10 days, according to an indictment.
During the abduction, the soldiers allegedly stripped the American naked, severely beat him and photographed him.
Mkrtchyan and Budnik led and participated in at least two interrogation sessions in which all four soldiers “committed acts specifically intended to inflict serious physical and mental pain and suffering” upon the U.S. national, who is protected by the Geneva Convention of 1949, the indictment claims.
The four soldiers also allegedly threatened to kill the American and conducted a mock execution, during which the soldiers forced the American to the ground and put a gun against his head, the Justice Department said.
What We Don’t Know
The location of the four soldiers is unknown, according to the Justice Department. If they are located in Russia, it could be difficult to bring them to trial as Russia does not extradite citizens facing charges in the U.S.
Surprising Fact
This is the first time the Justice Department has filed war crime charges against Russian military personnel, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Key Background
Several Russian officials have been charged with or faced allegations of war crimes since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine last year. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant in May for Russian President Vladimir Putin and another Russian official for the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children from Ukraine. Vice President Kamala Harris accused the Russian government of war crimes in an address to the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, suggesting the Russian military had killed civilians during an attack on Mariupol and carried out the mass deportations of Ukrainian children, among other claims. President Joe Biden referred to Putin as a “war criminal” in April 2022 and called for him to go to trial. Some institutions have also accused Russia of committing crimes against humanity, including the human rights organization Amnesty International.
Further Reading
U.S. Charges Four Russians With War Crimes In Ukraine (Wall Street Journal)
U.S. Charges Russian Soldiers With War Crimes Against An American In Ukraine (CNN)
