Iraq Sentences Man to Life for Recruiting Fighters for Russian Army in Ukraine

An Iraqi man named Risan Falah Kamel was sentenced to life in prison by the Najaf Criminal Court for recruiting Iraqi nationals to fight for Russia in the war against Ukraine, under Iraq's anti-human trafficking law. Kamel formed groups and sent fighters abroad in exchange for financial compensation. Thousands of foreign fighters from various countries, including China and North Korea, have joined both sides since the war began in 2022, with reports of North Korea sending troops and ammunition to support Russia, confirmed by Pyongyang under a mutual defense treaty ratified in late 2024. Ukrainian officials have highlighted the recruitment of mercenaries by Russia through social media and other means, including luring Iraqis with promises of money or travel opportunities to Europe. The Iraqi Parliament has acknowledged the presence of its nationals fighting alongside Russia and aims to investigate and curb this phenomenon. These developments underscore the complex international dimensions of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.