Russian-based mercenaries have meddled in global conflicts and committed human rights violations.
Nine bipartisan lawmakers introduced the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) act, which would designate the Russian mercenary company Wagner Group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Wagner Group was created in 2014 by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since its founding, the mercenary outfit has fought a number of wars around the world alongside Russian soldiers, committing many atrocities against human rights along the way.
President Joe Biden designated the group on an executive level last week, but a more formal Congressional designation against the Wagner Group would allow the federal government to enforce criminal penalties not only against them, but against all entities linked to their operations.
“Where the Wagner Group operates, atrocities follow,” said Rep. Steve Cohen, one of the authors of the legislation. “The HARM Act will identify Putin’s private mercenary group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and let the world know that its activities are both malign and illegal.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the House as they consider this legislation in their upcoming meetings.
- That Congress does their best to work with the executive branch toward common goals.
Sources: The Hill, AP, Reuters
