Russian War Criminal Sentenced to Life in Finnish Court

The Finnish court's verdict marks a significant legal precedent in addressing war crimes related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

A Finnish court has made a landmark decision by sentencing Voislav Torden, a former commander of the Rusich paramilitary group, to life imprisonment for his role in war crimes committed in eastern Ukraine in 2014. The 38-year-old Russian national faced multiple charges, with a panel of judges in Helsinki delivering the verdict on Friday. While Torden was acquitted of one charge, he was found guilty on four counts linked to an ambush in the Luhansk region that resulted in the deaths of 22 Ukrainian soldiers and injuries to several others, though he maintains his innocence.

This case marks the first time a Finnish court has prosecuted allegations of war crimes stemming from the Ukraine conflict. Torden, previously known as Yan Petrovsky, was a founding member of Rusich, which operated under the banner of the Wagner group, involved in pro-Russian separatist actions. The court heard evidence that Torden led his unit in a deceptive ambush on September 5, 2014, falsely presenting as Ukrainian forces before attacking.

Despite finding insufficient evidence to hold Rusich accountable for the ambush itself due to the involvement of other groups, the court found Torden guilty of overseeing mercenaries who committed egregious acts, including the mutilation of a wounded Ukrainian soldier. The judges emphasized the brutality of Torden's actions, comparing them to murder based on their cruelty.

As a consequence of his conviction, Torden has been ordered to pay compensation to the victim’s family, notwithstanding his declaration that he will appeal the ruling. He was arrested in July 2023 at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport upon a request from Ukrainian authorities, although Finland’s Supreme Court rejected an extradition request over equity concerns. The case could influence future prosecutions, following similar trials concerning acts from conflict zones like Rwanda and Iraq, signaling a commitment to justice for war crimes on an international scale.