PRINCIPLES THAT APPLY TO PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTORS IN UKRAINE

With the increasing number of private military contractors active in Ukraine, it is important to recall 6 key principles:
1.      Private military contractors must always comply with international law (International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights) – this is not negotiable;
2.      It is the nature and circumstances of the functions carried out by the personnel of private military contractors that determine their status as civilians or combatants;
3.      Personnel of private military contractors lose their protection as civilians for such time as they directly participate in hostilities;
4.      Personnel of private military contractors are civilians except if incorporated into the regular armed forces of a State or are members of organized armed forces, groups or units under a command responsible to the State;
5.      Personnel of private military contractors can be prosecuted if they commit crimes;
6.      Personnel of private military contractors are entitled to Prisonor of War status in international armed conflicts, if they are authorized to accompany the armed forces & have been provided with an identity card.