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British fighters in Ukraine: A man (2nd from right) gave his name to the photographer as Ben Grant
Photo:
Kai Pfaffenbach / REUTERS
Because he is fighting against the Russian military in the war in Ukraine, the Moscow judiciary has initiated criminal proceedings against the son of the British member of parliament and ex-minister Helen Grant.
"As part of criminal proceedings for mercenary work, investigators are investigating the role of a relative of British MP Helen Grant," the Russian investigative committee said on its Telegram channel.
British media celebrate Ben Grant as a hero.
The former Marine has been fighting the Russian invasion as a volunteer for Ukraine since March.
The British press recently reported that he saved the life of an injured comrade under fire and carried him from the battlefield.
The reading in Moscow is different.
According to Russian authorities, he "led the attack by a group of Western mercenaries on Russian military equipment in Ukraine."
Therefore, Grant's actions would now be judged criminally.
In Russia, being a mercenary is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
However, mercenaries are also fighting on the Russian side in the conflict.
The best-known group is the mercenary group "Wagner", whose financier is the entrepreneur Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is close to the Kremlin.
mas/dpa