Nikolos Berianidze

According to the investigation, "no later than 2016, he arrived on the territory of Kyiv, where he joined the Azov battalion (regiment) banned on the territory of the Russian Federation as a military instructor". "At the training base located in Kyiv, he underwent training, during which he received initial training, special military knowledge and skills in handling combat weapons, explosives, military equipment, learned tactics and ways of conducting combat operations. He was provided with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, ammunition, and special equipment". The report states that "the amount of remuneration received by the mercenary is equivalent to more than 4.7 million rubles." "In the period from 24 February to 20 May 2022, he was carrying out service as part of the AFU combat guard units in the temporarily occupied territory of the city of Mariupol of the Donetsk Republic. On the afternoon of 18 March, he detected a group of servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, participating in the Special Military Operation, in the vicinity of his combat position. Wishing to obstruct their lawful activities to ensure public security on the territory of the Donetsk Republic, he shot the Russian soldiers with an automatic rifle, as a result of which three of them died on the spot. He was subsequently detained by servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation". The killing did not take place "in the course of small arms combat". "He took part in combat operations on the side of Ukraine at various points of contact until the moment of his detention by servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation."