THE LEGAL STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO COMBAT IN THE UKRAINIAN WAR - CAN THEY ENJOY THE PRIVILEGES OF PRISONERS OF WAR (POW)?
THE LEGAL STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO COMBAT IN THE UKRAINIAN WAR - CAN THEY ENJOY THE PRIVILEGES OF PRISONERS OF WAR (POW)? ~ by Olubor Uyi Esq. Since the commencement of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. We have witnessed a situation where parties to the conflict have called upon volunteers across the world to enlist in their respective armed forces to participate in the ongoing war. This demand has resulted in a situation where a lot of persons across the world are volunteering to participate in the war. Just last week, it was reported that about 150 able-bodied Nigerian youths approached the Ukrainian embassy with the aim of joining the Ukrainian army in the fight against the Russians. However, this demand from the parties has awoken another age long debate whether: 1. Volunteers of this nature, can they be designated as mercenaries? 2. If we accept that, they are mercenaries. Would they be entitled to the rights and privileges as set out under the Gen