UK man denies links to Wagner Group

A man from the UK has denied being a member of the Russian Wagner Group.

Piotr Kucharski, 49, from The Glebe, Watford, has been charged with professing to be a member of the group contrary to the Terrorism Act.

The charges relate to a period between 15 September and 28 October 2023 and followed an an investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).

Kucharski entered a not guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and will appear at the Old Bailey on 16 August.

The Wagner Group emerged during the Donbas War and played a significant role in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Last year Wagner'ss leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin led a failed mutiny against Russia's military leaders and later died in a plane crash.

The private military company was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK Government in September.

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