Georgian citizen sentenced in absentia in Russia for fighting

A Russian court has sentenced Georgian citizen Zurab Karchava in absentia to 6.5 years in prison, recognizing him as a participant in hostilities on the side of Ukraine.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on July 18 it became known that a Russian court has sentenced Georgian citizen Georgy Baramidze in absentia to 14 years in prison for participating in hostilities on the side of Ukraine.

The Investigative Committee of Russia reported the new sentence to the Georgian citizen on July 21. Zurab Karchava has been arrested in absentia in Russia on charges of mercenarism (Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and has been placed on the international wanted list.

The court found that he had been participating in hostilities against the Russian military since 2022 "as part of a paramilitary formation" for monetary compensation, according to a message on the official Telegram channel of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.

The court sentenced Karchava to six years and six months in a general regime penal colony.

"Caucasian Knot" also wrote that in November 2023, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the capture of two Georgian citizens, Georgy Goglidze and Georgy Chubetidze, publishing footage of their interrogation. In April, Georgy Goglidze was sentenced to nine years in a strict regime penal colony.

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