The Department of Justice has charged four Russian-affiliated soldiers with war crimes against an American living in Ukraine, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday.
Suren Seiranovich Mkrtchyan, Dmitry Budnik — both of whom were commanding officers of military units of the Russian forces or allied troops — Valerii (last name unknown), and Nazar LNU were each charged in connection with the abduction and torture of the unnamed American victim, who was not fighting in the war. Garland’s announcement came a day after an indictment was returned in the Eastern District of Virginia.
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The American victim was living in Ukraine when he allegedly was abducted and held for 10 days, during which he was tortured and threatened with sexual assault and execution. The four Russian-affiliated service members, at one point, put a gun to the back of the abductee’s head and pulled the trigger, just missing him.
“We alleged that they forced him into a building that Russia-affiliated forces were using as a jail and into a closet that they were using as a jail cell. We allege that as they interrogated him, they tortured him, they beat him again with a gun,” Garland said at a press conference. “They punched him in his chest and stomach. They threatened to shoot him, stripped off his clothes, and took pictures. One of their conspirators threatened to sexually assault him, and during the interrogation, when the victim’s answers did not satisfy the defendants, we allege that Budnik, [who] was also a commanding officer, threatened the victim with death and asked for his last words.”
The victim first spoke with U.S. officials in August 2022 after he was evacuated from Ukraine.
“The charges include conspiracy to commit war crimes, including war crimes outlawed by the international community after World War II, unlawful confinement, torture, and inhuman treatment,” he added, noting, “This is our first, and you should expect more.”
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The DOJ has jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes committed against U.S. citizens abroad due to a statute Congress passed nearly 30 years ago. This case marks the first time the department has filed charges under the war crimes statute.
Russian forces have been accused of thousands of war crimes in their nearly two-year war in Ukraine that began in February 2022. They have been accused of indiscriminately attacking civilian populations within Ukraine, and officials have uncovered evidence of horrific scenes in areas temporarily held by Russian troops that were recaptured by the Ukrainian military. Ukrainian officials have found mass graves, signs of torture and executions, and signs of sexual violence.
