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Conor Kennedy faces Russian arrest warrant for alleged mercenary activity in Ukraine
A Moscow court has authorized the arrest in absentia of Conor Kennedy, a U.S. citizen and member of the Kennedy family, on charges of acting as a mercenary during the conflict in Ukraine. The Basmanny District Court decision, which was upheld on appeal, follows allegations that Kennedy fought alongside the Ukrainian International Legion in the Kharkiv region in 2022.
Kennedy, the son of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and husband of Brazilian singer Giulia Be, is accused under Article 353 of the Russian Criminal Code. If convicted, he faces a potential prison sentence of seven to ten years. Following the court's ruling, Kennedy has been placed on Russia's international wanted list.
The proceedings were held behind closed doors. Kennedy, who previously shared on social media that he joined the International Legion to support Ukraine, was not present at the hearing. While the arrest warrant has been issued, legal experts note that his actual detention would likely require extradition, which remains improbable. The case is viewed as a potential point of tension in U.S.-Russia relations.
Entities
Basmanny District Court · Conor Kennedy · Giulia Be · John F. Kennedy · Robert F. Kennedy Jr. · Russia · Ukraine International Legion
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 11 SOURCES] Kennedy previously stated on social media that he fought in the Kharkiv region and returned from Ukraine in October 2022. www.novinky.cz · paraonline.com.br · jovempan.com.br · www.alagoas24horas.com.br · correiodecarajas.com.br · +6 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The Basmanny District Court in Moscow authorized the arrest in absentia of Conor Kennedy. www.novinky.cz · paraonline.com.br · jovempan.com.br · www.alagoas24horas.com.br · correiodecarajas.com.br · +7 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] Kennedy has been placed on Russia's international wanted list. paraonline.com.br · jovempan.com.br · www.alagoas24horas.com.br · correiodecarajas.com.br · baoquocte.vn · +6 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The court proceedings were conducted behind closed doors. jovempan.com.br · www.alagoas24horas.com.br · correiodecarajas.com.br · www.seznamzpravy.cz · wydarzenia.interia.pl · +4 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The charge carries a potential prison sentence of seven to ten years. paraonline.com.br · jovempan.com.br · baoquocte.vn · www.upday.com · wydarzenia.interia.pl · +1 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] Conor Kennedy is accused of participating in armed conflict as a mercenary for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. www.novinky.cz · paraonline.com.br · jovempan.com.br · www.alagoas24horas.com.br · correiodecarajas.com.br · +7 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Russian courts have issued similar arrest warrants for other foreign nationals involved in the Ukraine International Legion. www.novinky.cz · paraonline.com.br · baoquocte.vn · wydarzenia.interia.pl · jovempan.com.br · +1 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Kennedy's legal team appealed the initial arrest order, but an appellate court upheld the decision. paraonline.com.br · jovempan.com.br · www.alagoas24horas.com.br · correiodecarajas.com.br · baoquocte.vn · +5 more