As part of the international special operation “Avengers”, Ukrainian and Moldovan policemen detained “Wagner” mercenaries, who participated in hostilities against Ukraine. About this informs press service of the National Police.
“Three of the detainees are citizens of Moldova. From 2014 to 2023, they took part in the battle for the Donetsk airport, the capture of Bakhmut, the creation of the “Debaltsev cauldron” as part of the “Wagner” PMC and other armed formations of the DPR and Russia. Some of them received awards and medals from the military leadership of the occupiers.”, says the message.
More than 200 law enforcement officers from the Main Investigative Department, the Department of Strategic Investigations, and the Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine, as well as employees of the Departments of Combating Organized Crime and Criminal Prosecutions of the National Inspectorate of Investigations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova.
The operation was conducted under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases of Moldova.
As part of the first stage of the international operation, the law enforcement officers of the two countries conducted more than 50 searches at the places of residence and registration of the suspects. As a result, documents, computer equipment and mobile phones containing correspondence, photo and video materials confirming the facts of recruitment, conditions of service in the “Wagner” PMC and the participation of the participants in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine were seized.
Moldovan police investigators informed the three suspects of charges brought against them for participating in an armed conflict as mercenaries, committing military or other violent acts aimed at undermining the constitutional order or violating the territorial integrity of the state (Article 141, paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova). Currently, the court determines a preventive measure, and the suspects face up to ten years in prison.
