At Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, a citizen of Armenia, Armen Balayan, was detained, who is accused in Russia of participating in the war in Ukraine on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee.
According to the investigation, Balayan arrived in Ukraine in November 2022 through the border with Moldova, joined the territorial defense, and until December 2023, participated in combat operations in the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions occupied by Russia 'for monetary reward'.
In August, he was charged in absentia with 'mercenarism', and the man was put on the wanted list. As stated in the report, in October, Balayan was detained at Domodedovo Airport 'while attempting to enter the territory of the Russian Federation'.
During the interrogation, the citizen of Armenia confessed and 'confirmed the facts previously established by the investigation of participation in the armed conflict as a mercenary'. According to the security forces, he stated that the unit he served in was disbanded because 'there were no soldiers left, almost all were wounded or killed', and he himself received several injuries.
The Basmanny District Court of Moscow sent Balayan to a detention center.
Photo: Investigative Committee