Court sentences Latvian professor in absentia to 14 years in prison for mercenarism
Latvian professor Ulmanis Juris Alberts has been sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison and put on an international wanted list for his participation in the conflict on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was reported by the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee (IC) on January 20.
It is specified that he was found guilty of committing a crime under Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict").
"By the court verdict Ulmanis was sentenced in absentia to 14 years of imprisonment. He is on an international wanted list," reads the message published in the Telegram-channel.
The investigation and the court found that in 2022 Ulmanis arrived in Ukraine and joined the formation "Carpathian Sich" (activity recognized as extremist and terrorist and banned in Russia), after which he underwent military training, was also provided with weapons. From April to September 2022 Ulmanis took part in hostilities on the side of the AFU on the territory of Ukraine and the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR).
Earlier, on January 14, the Supreme Court of the DNR passed a criminal verdict in absentia on a mercenary from Latvia, Uldis Volmars, who fought on the side of Ukraine. He was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony.
The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.
