The police in the Republic of North Macedonia detained a citizen of the country, suspected of trying to join the Russian army and take part in the fighting in Ukraine. According to the Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, this is the first registered case of a similar nature, reports News.bg.
The man, identified by the initials J.K., was arrested late Friday and placed under house arrest for 30 days. He is accused of "participation in a foreign army", which according to the country's legislation is punishable by a minimum of three years' imprisonment.
Attempt to join a Russian squad
The investigation found that J.K. communicated online with a person posing as a recruiter on behalf of the Russian military. The suspect was motivated by the promise of a €3,000 reward and traveled to Moscow in October to join a newly formed squad.
On his return to North Macedonia, a week after the trip, J.K. was detained at Skopje airport and interrogated. During the investigation, he said that he expected to sign a contract and be sent to a training camp in preparation for participating in the conflict in Ukraine.
Legal consequences and response
Local authorities emphasize the seriousness of the charges, as participation in a foreign army is a violation of national security and the law. Putting J.K. under house arrest is the first step in a process that can lead to an effective sentence.