According to the prosecutor, the man joined the Ukrainian army in May of this year. Until he was captured in August, he received the equivalent of over 56,000 Swedish kronor a month.
Across Russia and Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, captured foreign soldiers have been charged as "mercenaries" instead of being treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention. Being charged as a "mercenary" can result in up to 15 years in prison.
The Czech Foreign Ministry criticizes the verdict and believes that Russia is violating its obligations under the Geneva Convention.
