Finnish prosecutors have pressed charges against Russian nationalist fighter Vojislav Torden for committing war crimes in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Torden, formerly known as Yan Petrovsky, was detained in Helsinki Airport in July 2023 on suspicion of committing terror crimes in Ukraine. He was previously given a suspended prison sentence for violating EU sanctions by entering Finland under an alias. Ukrainian authorities have sought Torden’s arrest since 2016, accusing him of aiding pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2015. Finland’s Supreme Court had refused to extradite him to Ukraine.
Prosecutors in Finland charged Torden with five war crimes in eastern Ukraine that resulted in the deaths of 22 Ukrainian soldiers and injuries to four others. The charges were related to actions contrary to the laws of war and the treatment of wounded and killed enemy soldiers. This marks the first time someone in Finland has been charged with war crimes committed in Ukraine. The National Bureau of Investigation in Finland carried out a thorough investigation that involved cooperation with Ukrainian prosecutors and security services, Europol, the International Criminal Court, and Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation. Torden has denied the allegations against him.
Finland has a legal principle called universal jurisdiction, which allows it to bring charges for suspected crimes committed anywhere in the world. The trial date for Torden has yet to be set, but Deputy Prosecutor Jukka Rappe expects it to begin in November. The case against Torden reflects the ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for crimes committed during the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The charges against Torden for war crimes highlight Finland’s commitment to upholding international humanitarian law and prosecuting those responsible for violations.
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The case against Torden highlights the complexities of international justice and the importance of holding individuals accountable for war crimes committed in conflict zones. The collaboration between Finnish and Ukrainian authorities, as well as international organizations, demonstrates the global effort to prosecute individuals responsible for atrocities during conflicts. The trial of Torden in Finland will be closely monitored by international observers and human rights organizations to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible for war crimes are held accountable. The outcome of the trial will have implications for future cases of war crimes prosecution in conflict zones around the world.
