The so-called Supreme Court in Ukraine's Russian-occupied Donetsk region has sentenced Mamuka Mamulashvili, leader of the Georgian Legion, to 23 years in prison in absentia.
The court, operating under Russia’s authority in the illegally annexed region, accused Mamulashvili of recruiting and training foreign mercenaries to fight against Russian forces in Ukraine.
According to the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, the 46-year-old Mamulashvili, who says he has been the focus of several poisoning attempts, was found guilty under several articles of the Russian Criminal Code.
While the ruling will likely have no practical impact on Mamulashvili or the Georgian Legion’s operations, it provides valuable propaganda for the Kremlin as it continues its campaign to suppress dissent and isolate Ukraine diplomatically.
SEE ALSO: Russia Opens Criminal Case Against Brit Accused Of Terrorism, Mercenary ActivitiesFor Ukraine and its allies, the verdict underscores the ongoing challenges in countering Russia’s narrative both on and off the battlefield.
The charges allege that from 2014 to 2024 Mamulashvili recruited ex-military personnel from Georgia and other nations not directly involved in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Prosecutors claimed Mamulashvili provided training, weapons, and logistical support to these recruits, enabling their participation in military operations.
The court further stated Mamulashvili received compensation equivalent to over 23 million rubles ($221.500) for his activities.
Russian authorities also highlighted an April 2022 interview Mamulashvili gave to the Khodorkovsky-LIVE YouTube channel where he voiced staunchly anti-Russian sentiments and criticized Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to Mamulashvili, three other Georgian fighters -- Giorgi Rusitashvili, Nodar Petriashvili, and Vano Nadiradze -- were sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison each. They were convicted of participating as mercenaries in an armed conflict.
The Russian prosecutor’s office stated that all four individuals would serve their sentences in a strict-regime penal colony if captured.
SEE ALSO: Ukraine Live Briefing: Merkel Defends Stance On NATO Membership For KyivThe Georgian Legion, founded in 2014, is a volunteer military unit supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
Composed primarily of Georgian ex-soldiers, the group has been actively involved in key battles across eastern Ukraine.
Russia has labeled the Georgian Legion a terrorist organization, aligning with its broader narrative of framing foreign support for Ukraine as illegitimate and criminal.
The in absentia sentencing of Mamulashvili and other Georgian fighters appears to serve several purposes beyond legal action.
It reinforces Moscow’s portrayal of foreign volunteers aiding Ukraine as mercenaries and terrorists, undermining their legitimacy.
By focusing on Mamulashvili’s recruitment efforts and financial rewards, Russian authorities aim to discredit the broader network of international support for Ukraine’s resistance.
The verdict also underscores Russia’s effort to project authority over Donetsk, a region it annexed in violation of international law.
Issuing high-profile verdicts from a “Supreme Court” in the occupied territory serves to normalize its judicial and political structures in the eyes of its domestic audience, despite their lack of international recognition.