The US justice chief on Wednesday branded Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia’s mercenary Wagner army pressure combating in Ukraine, a struggle prison.
Attorney General Merrick Garland instructed a Senate listening to that the Justice Department helps Ukraine examine struggle crimes allegedly dedicated since Russia’s invasion, together with by the semi-private Wagner army group.
“Mr. Prigozhin, who runs this thing, is in my view a war criminal,” Garland instructed the listening to.
“Maybe that is inappropriate for me to say as a choose earlier than getting all of the proof. But I feel we’ve got greater than enough proof at this level for me to really feel that approach.
“That group, which is responsible for the attacks on the Ukrainians in the Donbass, including by bringing in prisoners from Russian prison camps — it’s just an unfathomable what they are doing.”
Ukraine’s prosecutor basic Andriy Kostin has mentioned that Kyiv is investigating Prigozhin for struggle crimes, and Garland mentioned the United States is aiding Ukraine in its probes.
Prigozhin has been a detailed ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and though Wagner operates principally independently from the Russian military, it has had a key position within the assault on Ukraine.
In January the United States formally designated Wagner as a transnational prison group, placing it in league with Italian mafia teams and Japanese and Russian organized crime.
The designation permits wider sanctions on the group’s sprawling international community, which incorporates mercenary operations in addition to companies in Africa.
US legislators are urgent the administration of President Joe Biden to designate Wagner a terrorist group.
Prigozhin was indicted by the justice division in 2018 for interference in US elections by the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency, which he additionally controls.
Source: www.anews.com.tr