A good year and a half after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, Great Britain wants to declare the Russian private army Wagner a terrorist organization.
According to the Home Office, a corresponding draft law is to be presented to Parliament in London today. This makes membership in the mercenary group a punishable offense and their assets can be confiscated.
“Wagner is a violent and destructive organization that functions as a military instrument of (President) Vladimir Putin’s Russia abroad,” said Interior Secretary Suella Braverman. “Wagner has been involved in looting, torture and barbaric murders. His operations in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa are a threat to global security.” Braverman emphasized: “They are terrorists, quite simply.”
Wagner was commanded by businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash in Russia a few weeks ago. The group has played an important role since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine in February 2022. She is accused of war crimes – also in other countries, for example in Africa, where she is deployed.
