A de facto court in occupied Donetsk sentenced Georgian opposition politician Koba Khabazi to 13 years in prison in absentia. He is accused of fighting for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a mercenary.

A de facto court in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk sentenced Georgian citizen and opposition politician Koba Khabazi to 13 years in a high-security penal colony in absentia, alleging he took part in combat on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a “mercenary”, Russian state media TASS reported on April 10. According to the report, Khabazi arrived in Ukraine from Poland in March 2022, underwent combat training, and fought against Russian forces till January 2026, receiving “more than 3.6 million rubles” (about USD 45,000) for his “mercenary activities.” He was found guilty under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Russian Criminal Code, covering “participation by a mercenary in an armed conflict or hostilities,” and placed on the international wanted list. Khabazi, a former Georgian MP from the United National Movement party, is currently a member of the opposition Coalition for Change alliance. Also Read: 07/03/2026 – De Facto Donetsk Court Sentences Georgian Lawyer Beka Basilaia to 14 Years in Absentia 11/02/2026 – Donetsk Court Sentences Georgian Fighter in Ukraine to Life in Prison 26/12/2025 – Russia-Backed Court Sentences Georgian Medic to 15 Years in Absentia This post is also available in: ქართული Donetsk Koba Khabazi Russia's war in Ukraine Copy URL