A Finnish court has sentenced a Russian neo-Nazi, Vojislav Torden, to life in prison for war crimes committed in Ukraine in 2014. Torden, a commander of the Russian neo-Nazi paramilitary group Rusich, was found guilty of four different war crimes, including the brutal execution of a wounded Ukrainian soldier and authorizing the mutilation of another prisoner.
The court ruled that Torden was responsible for the death of a wounded Ukrainian soldier and permitted his subordinates to desecrate another soldier’s body. He was also convicted of taking humiliating photographs with a corpse and spreading messages online promoting the group’s brutality.
Torden was accused of participating in an ambush that killed 22 Ukrainian soldiers in the Russian-backed separatist region of Luhansk. However, this charge was dismissed by the court due to lack of evidence.
Finland exercised its principle of universal jurisdiction, allowing its courts to prosecute severe crimes regardless of where they were committed. This landmark case underscores international efforts to hold individuals accountable for wartime atrocities, even beyond the borders of the conflict.
Key Points:
- War Crimes: Torden was found guilty of four different war crimes, including execution and mutilation of Ukrainian soldiers.
- Universal Jurisdiction: Finland applied its principle of universal jurisdiction to prosecute Torden for crimes committed outside its borders.
- Life Sentence: Torden was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the war crimes.
- Rusich Group: Torden was a commander of the Russian neo-Nazi paramilitary group Rusich, which fought alongside Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine.