Ukrainian prosecutors in Donetsk region have agreed on the issue of suspicion papers in absentia to two Italian citizens who fought on the side of the Russia-backed separatists, the Prosecutor General’s Spokeswoman Larysa Sarhan has said.
“The Prosecutor’s Office in Donetsk region has agreed on the issue of a notice of suspicion in absentia on charges of committing criminal offenses under Part 2 of Article 260 (participation in illegal military or armed groups) of Ukraine’s Criminal Code of Ukraine for 43-year-old and 30-year-old Italian citizens who participated in fighting on the side of the ‘DPR,'” Sarhan said on Facebook on June 12.
She said the pretrial investigation established that the men in 2014 arrived in the town of Yasynuvata, Donetsk region, for voluntary service with Russia-occupation forces as part of illegal armed groups. Their duties included armed watch at a checkpoint and participation in combat missions.
The pretrial investigation continues.
“In the near future, the prosecutor’s office will apply to the court for a warrant to detain the suspects and choose them a preventive measure in the form of custody,” Sarhan said.
