MOSCOW, October 7 (RAPSI) – Roman Zheleznov, a Russian national with a criminal record, is suspected of fighting in Ukraine as a mercenary in the Azov Battalion, Investigative Committee spokesperson Vladimir Markin announced on Tuesday.

Under Russian law, a mercenary is an individual who is hired for monetary gain and is not a citizen of the country that is involved in an armed conflict or hostilities, who has no permanent residence in that country, and who has not been sent to the said country in an official capacity.

Markin said that Zheleznov, who has been convicted of theft and hooliganism in Russia, is fighting in Ukraine for 4,000 hryvnias (about $309) a month.
The case against him has been opened under an article on the participation of mercenaries in armed conflicts and hostilities.

“The suspects’ place of residence has been searched, with items of interest for investigation removed for examination. Investigators plan to place Zheleznov on the international wanted list,” Markin said.

The Azov Battalion is a far-right paramilitary unit of about 300 volunteers that reports to the Interior Ministry of Ukraine. It has been doing much of the frontline fighting in Kiev’s war with the self-defense forces in eastern Ukraine.