Colombian for battles in Ukraine sentenced to 28 years in Russia

Colombian for battles in Ukraine sentenced to 28 years in Russia

Kursk, Russland - A court in Kursk, Russia, sentenced the Colombian Pablo Puentes Borges to a prison sentence of 28 years. As OE24 he was accused of being joined as Söldner and in the Russian borderline To have fought a courtyard. In addition to "mercenaryism", "illegal border crossing" and "weapons and ammunition smuggling" were also charged. The verdict illustrates the rigorous criminal prosecution of Russia against foreigners who are fighting for Ukraine because they do not enjoy protection as a prisoner of war according to the Geneva conventions.

In the summer of 2024, the Ukrainian army had entered the Russian border region of Kursk and had occupied about 1,400 square kilometers. However, in April 2025 the last Ukrainian units had to withdraw from this region, which the security situation continued to complicate.

legal situation for mercenaries

The situation of mercenaries in international law is ambiguous. As reports taz , mercenaries are considered people who are not integrated into state armed forces and take part in commercial interest in armed conflicts. They do not enjoy international protection, which means that they can be made punishable in the event of killing or injuries to opponents. The first additional protocol of 1977 for the Geneva Convention makes it clear that mercenaries only have the right to human treatment and legal proceedings.

In many conflict regions, national law enforcement agencies suffer from weak state structures, which makes it difficult to pursue mercenaries. In addition, intergovernmental agreements in the past have often granted additional protection for employees of private security companies.

international dimension

Another example of the international dimension of mercenary use is the case of western soldier James Anderson, who is said to have fought in a right -wing battalion in Ukraine. According to Spiegel Anderson is currently in Russian captivity, which shows another facet of the legal and humanitarian aspects of mercenary use.

In Germany, the legal situation is complex. The recruitment of German citizens for foreign military service is punishable, while working in private mercenary troops is not automatically illegal. War crimes and crimes against humanity are subject to the German Council of Völkerstezbuch, which can potentially lead to criminal consequences.

The conviction of Pablo Puentes Borges and the background of mercenary use illustrate the delicate legal and ethical questions in times of armed conflicts.