EU Parliament Condemns ‘Russian Proxy’ Wagner Group’s ‘Heinous Crimes’

The European Parliament on Thursday strongly condemned a notorious Russian paramilitary body, saying it "condemns in the strongest terms the heinous crimes committed by the Wagner Group and related private military entities".

The resolution, adopted by 585 votes in favour, with 40 against and 43 abstentions, "underlines the strong indications that the Russian State bears responsibility for the funding, training, management and operational command of those paramilitary groups; underscores that the Wagner Group's activities coincide and correspond with the spread of Russia's influence in conflict zones; expresses its firm conviction that the Wagner Group, and other Russian-led security contractors, should be treated as proxy organisations of the Russian State".

MEPs called on Moscow "to enforce the Russian Criminal Code, notably Article 359, prohibiting the recruitment, training, financing or material provision of mercenaries and their use in an armed conflict".

The resolution noted that Wagner mercenaries participated or are active in warzones ranging from Ukraine to Syria, Libya and the Central African Republic.

Residents of some Balkan countries have also participated in fighting in Ukraine's eastern war zones, most often as part of paramilitary units.

In 2018, the Ukrainian Security Service, SBU  published a list of 206 individuals who it claimed have been fighting for Wagner Group in Syria and eastern Ukraine, including three Moldovan citizens.

Some Serbs that went to fight for pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine were, according to court documents, also part of this unit.

The European Parliament also called on "the EU and its Member States to seize all opportunities to communicate to relevant countries the...

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