According to the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, former Georgian Vice Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze, who fought on the side of the Ukrainian armed forces for several months, will be tried in absentia in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic.

“The Prosecutor’s Office of the Donetsk People’s Republic has confirmed the charges in the criminal case against Georgian citizen Giorgi Baramidze. He was charged in absentia under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict). The criminal case was sent to the Supreme Court of the Donetsk People’s Republic for consideration,” reads the statement.

According to investigators, Baramidze arrived in Ukraine as a mercenary in February 2022, where he joined the Georgian National Legion. According to them, Baramidze underwent military training, after which he fought against Russian military personnel until April 2022, and his salary exceeded 238,000 rubles.

“Baramidze is on international wanted list and the court has imposed pretrial detention in absentia on him,” the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office said.