EU MPs call to list Russian PMC Wagner as a terrorist organization

Members of the European Parliament want to list the Russian military group, Wagner, as a terrorist organization, Politico reported. MEPs from all parties are urging the EU to designate the Wagner group as a terrorist group. 

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, runs a private mercenary militia that has fought in wars in many countries including the Central African Republic, Sudan, Mozambique, and Ukraine.

Wagner serves Russia as a tool of intimidation abroad

The Wagner Group, a private military company owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin and a crucial tool in the Kremlin’s arsenal for its terror and intimidation abroad, has not yet been targeted by the international sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of its war against Ukraine. 

Since 2014, the Wagner Group’s participation in the war in Ukraine has drawn attention, but they have also been active in Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, and most recently, Mali.

Call in the US to recognize Wagner as a terrorist organization under AEDPA

Previously, James Petrila and Phil Wasielewski wrote in Lawfare that in the months since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has missed an opportunity to designate Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization under the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act.

The designation of Wagner as a terrorist organization under the AEDPA would be an appropriate response to war crimes that Wagner mercenaries committed in occupied Ukraine from 2014 until today, and also for the documented crimes that they committed in the Middle East and Africa, they emphasized.

French Foreign Ministry: Wagner is a criminal group responsible for many crimes

The member of the European Parliament Raphaël Glucksmann tweeted that the Wagner Group should be listed as a terrorist organization. Replying to an online question about Paris’ position on this, the French Foreign Ministry stated:

“Given the widely documented criminal actions that it engages in, the Wagner Group private military company is a criminal group and is sanctioned under the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. We want those responsible for the many crimes committed by this organization and its members to be prosecuted in national and international courts.”

Russia uses Wagner in Africa to expand its influence

African countries have become the main focus of Russia’s foreign policy since Moscow launched a war against Ukraine and found itself isolated and under harsh economic sanctions. However, African “allies” accept this friendship to get profit. These countries need Russian grain, weapons, and military mercenaries. 

Read on this topic in our article Africa – Russia: friendship for convenience – grain and military mercenaries.

Macron accused Russia of a ‘predatory project’ in Africa

Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that Moscow is pursuing a ‘predatory project’ to spread influence in African countries. Russia is allegedly using disinformation campaigns and private military companies to advance its “predatory project” in Africa, according to Mr. Macron.

France withdrew its troops when Mali’s army seized power in the country in a coup in 2020 after a deterioration in bilateral ties. To assist in the war against Islamist militants the new leadership engaged the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-affiliated private military company.

Now, it’s time to see Wagner militants and those who run the military group hold responsibility for the crimes that they committed in Africa, Ukraine, Syria, and other countries.

Read also: Revelation of links between Putin’s general, and Syrian phosphate smuggling to Europe