A British man captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine has been sentenced to 19 years in prison, according to a Russian court.
James Scott Rhys Anderson, 22, was convicted of “mercenary activities” and a “terrorist act” after a closed three-day military trial in Kursk, the court press service confirmed on Wednesday. Anderson, who was reportedly captured in November during Ukraine’s cross-border offensive in Kursk, pleaded guilty to the charges, the press service stated.
Under the terms of his sentence, Anderson will serve five years in prison before being transferred to a penal colony to complete the remainder of his term, the press service added. Court footage showed Anderson silently nodding after the ruling was translated for him.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office condemned Anderson’s sentence, describing the charges as false. A spokesperson emphasized that “under international law, prisoners of war cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities” and called on Russia to honor its obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions, and to stop using prisoners of war for political and propaganda purposes.
In 2022, a Russian court in the Donetsk region sentenced two British citizens and a Moroccan to death for being foreign mercenaries and engaging in “terrorist” activities. The three men were later released in a prisoner exchange brokered by Saudi Arabia.
