The new locations were selected due to the growing number of tourists and population from these countries in the UAE and the region
aviation2 hours ago
Two Americans detained in Ukraine while fighting on the Ukrainian side of the war were mercenaries who endangered the lives of Russian servicemen and should face responsibility for their actions, the Kremlin said on Monday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, interviewed by the US television network MSNBC, also said US basketball star Brittney Griner, held in Russia for more than two months, was guilty of drug offences and not a hostage.
Peskov’s comments were the first formal acknowledgment that the two men, identified in US reports as Andy Huynh, 27, of Hartselle, Alabama, and Alexander Drueke, 39, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, were being held and under investigation.
“They are soldiers of fortune. They were involved in illegal activities on the territory of Ukraine. They were involved in firing at and shelling of our military personnel. They were endangering their lives,” Peskov said.
“And they should be held responsible for those crimes they have committed. Those crimes have to be investigated...The only thing that is clear is that they have committed crimes. They are not in the Ukrainian army. They are not subject to the Geneva convention.”
ALSO READ:
Family members said last week the two men went to Ukraine as volunteer fighters and had gone missing.
Russian media last week broadcast images of them captured while fighting for Ukraine.
Peskov would not reveal where the men were held.
Two Britons and a Moroccan have already been sentenced by a court under the jurisdiction of separatists in Donetsk on grounds that they were mercenaries and not subject to the Geneva Convention governing prisoners of war.
Kyiv condemned the court ruling as having no authority and said the fighters were members of the Ukrainian armed forces, and thus subject to Geneva Convention protections.
Moscow calls its actions a “special military operation” to disarm Ukraine and protect it from fascists. Ukraine and its allies in the West say the fascist allegation is baseless and the war is an unprovoked act of aggression.
Peskov said Griner, who had come to promote basketball in Russia, was being prosecuted under laws forbidding the import of drugs.
“Russia is not the sole country in the world to have quite strict laws in that sense...it is prosecuted by law. We can do nothing about that,” Peskov told MSNBC.
He “strongly disagreed” with any notion that Griner, who arrived in Russia in February, was being held hostage.
“We cannot call her a hostage. Why should we call her a hostage?” he said. “She violated Russian law and now she is being prosecuted. It not about being a hostage.”
Russian customs officials say vape cartridges containing hashish oil were found in Griner’s luggage.
The US State Department determined in May that Griner was wrongfully detained and assigned diplomats to work for her release. Her wife, Cherelle Griner, has said she is a political pawn.
The new locations were selected due to the growing number of tourists and population from these countries in the UAE and the region
aviation2 hours ago
Deal volumes rise 7% in the first nine months, contrasting with a global decline of 13%
business2 hours ago
Spot gold suffers biggest daily percentage decline since November 06
markets2 hours ago
Prior to the census, the planning ministry estimated the population at 43 million
mena2 hours ago
Moniify will spotlight emerging markets with a focus on the industries driving the future – from tech and AI to crypto and space
uae2 hours ago
'Men find it harder to deal with their emotions,' says the 24-year-old actor, known for his breakout roles in 'The Archies' and 'Jigra'
entertainment2 hours ago
Dig into this limited-edition menu with chicken and lentil shorba and samosa chaat
food2 hours ago
With the festive season fast approaching, UAE residents are spoilt for choice when it comes to celebrating with friends and family
food listings2 hours ago