Prison for a British Soldier: London Hits Back and 'Firmly' Condemns Russia

A British soldier has been sentenced by the Russian justice system to 19 years in prison for fighting alongside the Ukrainian armed forces.

James Anderson, a 22-year-old British national, was found guilty of 'terrorism' and 'mercenarism'. Last Wednesday, on March 5th, the young man was tried behind closed doors by a Russian military court. According to the press service of the courts in the Kursk region, he reportedly pleaded guilty and admitted to fighting for Kyiv for financial motivations, reports the media outlet 20 Minutes.

London's reaction was swift, as on the evening of March 5th, it 'firmly' condemned the Russian court's decision and denounced 'false accusations'. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office also expressed indignation following the verdict: 'Under international law, prisoners of war cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities. We demand that Russia comply with these obligations, particularly those arising from the Geneva Conventions.' And added: 'We remain in close contact with Mr. Anderson's family and are providing him consular support.'

Meanwhile, the Russian Investigative Committee claims that Mr. Anderson 'illegally' entered the Russian region of Kursk in November 2024, where Ukrainian soldiers hold several hundred square kilometres. According to the Investigative Committee, the detainee allegedly committed 'crimes against the civilian population', without providing further details.

(Manon Pierre - Source: 20 Minutes - Illustration: ©Unsplash)