Czech who fought in Ukraine receives three-year probation

A Czech man, who was a member of the unrecognised Donetsk People’s Republic army from 2015 to 2016, has received a three-year probation with a five year conditional period by the local court in České Budějovice for serving in a foreign armed force. The defendant, who was originally facing a 12-year-long jail term for terrorism, still has the chance to appeal the decision.

Before court proceedings began, the 27-year-old defendant Pavel Kafka said he had gone to the east of Ukraine to help civilians and work in a hospital, because he found it unfair that people there were not receiving help. However, the judge noted that humanitarian relief was already active in the region, for example through the presence of Czech NGO People in Need.

The prosecution argued that Kafka had travelled to Donetsk in order to join a tank unit, where he received training before taking part in combat. Furthermore, it provided witness testimony of his anti-Western feelings and support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.