The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry says there is no proof of the alleged involvement of Ukrainian mercenaries in the Russian-Georgian conflict in August 2008.
“The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is unaware of any proof supporting the allegations, which disagree with the constructive spirit of the Ukrainian-Russian strategic partnership,” the ministry told Interfax-Ukraine. Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said earlier that Ukrainian mercenaries ‘discredited’ Russian soldiers in the South Ossetian events in 2008.
Therefore, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry won’t comment on “a statement by a medium-level official of an entity, which is not entitled to make foreign political statements.”
Like any other civilized state, Ukraine defines mercenaries as criminals and persons found guilty of this crime are subject to prosecution, the ministry said.
Markin said detectives investigating the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict of August 2008 found out that Georgian servicemen had simulated crimes by Russian soldiers in the peace enforcement operation against Georgia. “Witnesses said that before Russian forces came to Gori and other towns on the border with Georgia Ukrainian mercenaries were dressed in Russian military uniforms and fake photos and videos were taken of the alleged violence and looting by Russian soldiers in Georgian villages in order to mislead residents of Georgia and the international community,” he said.
