Court arrests US mercenary accused of crimes in Russia in absentia

A court has arrested in absentia Robert Wertman, a mercenary of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) from the United States, who is accused of committing crimes in Kursk Region. This was reported by the press service of the Investigative Committee (IC) of the Russian Federation on Wednesday, November 20.

"At the request of the investigator of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, the court elected (in absentia) mercenary from the United States Wertman a measure of restraint in the form of detention," - stated in the message of the agency in Telegram-channel.

The American is accused of terrorism, mercenarism, murder, attempt on the life of law enforcement officers and illegal border crossing.

An investigation is underway to find the mercenary and his accomplices, find out all the details of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Thecriminal case against Robert Wertman was initiated by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation on October 31. It was established that in early September the American was in the composition of representatives of mercenary formations and armed formations of Ukraine, which invaded the territory of Kursk region.

Ukrainian militants attacked Russian positions in the border areas of the Kursk region on August 6. The situation in the region was recognized as a state of emergency of federal character. An operation to destroy the AFU is underway.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the beginning of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.