Feds charge 4 Russians with war crimes against an American in Ukraine
The Justice Department along with the Homeland Security Department charged four Russian military-affiliated personnel with war crimes against an American living in Ukraine in 2022.
That unidentified victim was held captive for 10 days, and was interrogated, tortured, stripped of his clothes, threatened with sexual violence and forced to dig ditches for Russian troops, Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a Wednesday morning news briefing. The news conference was also attended by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
The historic announcement marks the first time the Justice Department has filed charges under the U.S. war crimes statute.
Garland (photo) summarized Russia’s aggression in Ukraine as “atrocities on the largest scale” of any armed conflict in Europe since World War II.
The Russian operatives charged with war crimes, Suren Seiranovich Mkrtchyan, Dmitry Budnik and two others identified as Valerii and Nazar, will be brought to justice “when the time comes,” Garland said. Two of the Russians charged are senior officers. Their current location is unclear.
The indictment unsealed in Richmond Va., Federal Court on Tuesday charges unlawful confinement, torture, inhumane treatment and conspiracy to commit war crimes.
“The evidence gathered by our agents speaks to the brutality, criminality, and depravity of Russia’s invasion,” Mayorkas said.
The victim, whose wife is Ukrainian, was also subject to a mock execution leading him to believe he’d be killed, U.S. officials claim. The couple has since been evacuated from Ukraine.
“We will work relentlessly to bring criminals to justice,” Wray vowed Wednesday.
The International Criminal Court charged Russian President Vladimir Putin with war crimes in March claiming he’s responsible for Ukrainian children being brought to Russia. The Kremlin called those claims “outrageous.”
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. At least 10,000 civilians have been killed in the war and more than 18,500 noncombatants have been injured, according to the UN.