For the fighters from the Azov steel plant in Mariupol in Russian captivity, the decision could mean very severe punishment.
Russia’s Supreme Court has classified Ukraine’s Azov regiment as a “terrorist organization”. A court judge told the Russian news agency Tass that the Azov paramilitary forces were classified as a “terrorist organization” and their activities in Russia were banned.
The decision could mean very severe punishment for the members of the Azov regiment, who were captured by Russia and made famous by the fierce battles surrounding the Ukrainian port of Mariupol. After weeks of siege, the fighters surrendered to the Russian superiority and were taken prisoner.
There are long prison sentences
The decision is effective immediately. This means that members of the former combat group of volunteers that was integrated into the Ukrainian military years ago can be sentenced to long prison terms in the future. According to the Russian Penal Code, members of “terrorist” groups can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. For leaders and organizers, the sentence can be 20 years.
Connections to right-wing extremists
The Azov Regiment is a former volunteer battalion, controversial because of its right-wing extremist past. Russia refers to it as a “Neo-Nazi” group. The Russian leadership keeps referring to the regiment to support their claims that they are fighting neo-Nazis in Ukraine. There, the Azov regiment is one of the most prominent military formations fighting against Russian troops in eastern Ukraine.
In 2014, the combat group was formally integrated into the Ukrainian National Guard. At that time, Azov members took part in the fight against Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Azov fighters alongside Ukrainian soldiers
Azov fighters are also currently deployed alongside Ukrainian soldiers to push back Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine, which began in February. Ukrainian soldiers, including many Azov fighters, surrendered in May after a siege of the Azov steelworks in the Ukrainian port of Mariupol for weeks. 2500 fighters were captured by Russian units.
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