Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-25

[Josquius]

Mercs are against international law.
Russia is trying to hide this and giving the Koreans Russian equipment and fake IDs.
Plus they don't really give a shit about breaking international law.

[Valmy]

Mercs are against International Law? Then what is the Wagner Group? Boy Scouts?

[Josquius]

Mercs are against International Law? Then what is the Wagner Group? Boy Scouts?

Private security.
They're against international law to use in war.
But hiring guys for guarding oil refineries and all that is fine.

But of course from Russias perspective Ukraine isn't a war. And for all the laws they've broken this one is not even a footnote.
 I suppose we could turn this back on them... Though Russia has cried fowl on it nonetheless when they captured foreigners.

[Barrister]

Mercs are against International Law? Then what is the Wagner Group? Boy Scouts?

I was curious so googled:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/wg-mercenaries/international-standards#:~:text=International%20law%20prohibits%20the%20use,conflict%20and%20certain%20peaceful%20situations.

All very interesting.

Just a couple of observations:
-it's more a duty on neutral nations to prevent mercenaries from being recruited, rather than a restriction on warring countries from using mercenaries
-a mercenary is defined as someone NOT a member of the national army - so foreign volunteers are fine (and always have been)
-it talks about "being motivated by private gain" - so I guess being motivated by something else makes you not a mercenary

[Josquius]

The NKs are motivated by their entire extended family not being sent to work camps.
Does that count?

[Admiral Yi]

What are the Gurkhas.

[Barrister]

What are the Gurkhas.

A member of the British Army recruited from Nepal.

Same reason the French Foreign Legion is fine, same as foreign volunteers in Ukraine, or Irish volunteers in WWII.

[grumbler]

Mercs are against International Law? Then what is the Wagner Group? Boy Scouts?

I was curious so googled:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/wg-mercenaries/international-standards#:~:text=International%20law%20prohibits%20the%20use,conflict%20and%20certain%20peaceful%20situations.

All very interesting.

Just a couple of observations:
-it's more a duty on neutral nations to prevent mercenaries from being recruited, rather than a restriction on warring countries from using mercenaries
-a mercenary is defined as someone NOT a member of the national army - so foreign volunteers are fine (and always have been)
-it talks about "being motivated by private gain" - so I guess being motivated by something else makes you not a mercenary

The "motivated by private gain" issue kicks in when a possible merc is paid more than an equivalent member of the state's own armed forces.  The Nork "volunteers" are okay so long as they are members of the Russian army and receive the same pay and benefits.

[crazy canuck]

Mercs are against International Law? Then what is the Wagner Group? Boy Scouts?

I was curious so googled:

https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/wg-mercenaries/international-standards#:~:text=International%20law%20prohibits%20the%20use,conflict%20and%20certain%20peaceful%20situations.

All very interesting.

Just a couple of observations:
-it's more a duty on neutral nations to prevent mercenaries from being recruited, rather than a restriction on warring countries from using mercenaries
-a mercenary is defined as someone NOT a member of the national army - so foreign volunteers are fine (and always have been)
-it talks about "being motivated by private gain" - so I guess being motivated by something else makes you not a mercenary

The "motivated by private gain" issue kicks in when a possible merc is paid more than an equivalent member of the state's own armed forces.  The Nork "volunteers" are okay so long as they are members of the Russian army and receive the same pay and benefits.

Interesting, I was wondering where the line was.  Thanks

[Crazy_Ivan80]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh1ks7ZsxNI&ab_channel=ProfessorGerdesExplains%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6

one for our weak-willed 'politicians'

[Legbiter]

Mikhail Rogachev, former vice-president of Yukos fell out of a window and died in Moscow.

[crazy canuck]

It would've thought that by this point, somebody would've done a more thorough safety inspection of windows in Moscow

[grumbler]

It would've thought that by this point, somebody would've done a more thorough safety inspection of windows in Moscow

Not just in Moscow.  A Putin critic "fell out of a window" in Washington DC.

[Caliga]

I wonder if when Stalin's enemies were being purged, they all just kept accidentally getting in the way of bullets? Like seriously, is that a joke amongst Russians?

[Barrister]

I wonder if when Stalin's enemies were being purged, they all just kept accidentally getting in the way of bullets? Like seriously, is that a joke amongst Russians?

I think there's a difference in eras.  Stalin didn't particularly mind being seen as a dictator.

Putin on the one hand has to keep up the facade of being a democrat.  But on the other hand he wants everyone to know what will happen to his enemies.  Hence the "fell out of a window".  Everyone knows what happens, Putin's fans and opponents alike - but it maintains that slim "wink and a nod" deniability.