Russian extremist suspected of war crimes in Ukraine in 2014: NBI

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) completed criminal investigation into suspected war crimes committed in Ukraine in 2014, said NBI in a press release on Friday.

One person is suspected of several war crimes, including an aggravated war crime.

The NBI, however, did not divulge detail about the suspect but local media reported that the accused, Voislav Torden (also known as Yan Petrovsky), was former commander of the Russian far-right extremist Rusich paramilitary group.

During the criminal investigation, the NBI and the prosecutors in the case worked closely together and also cooperated with the Finnish Defence Forces and the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service.

They have exchanged information with the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine, Europol, Eurojust and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The criminal investigation material will be referred to the prosecutors. Based on the material, the Deputy Prosecutor General will decide whether prosecution in the case is warranted.

Any charges must be brought by 31 October 2024.