As though we needed further proof of Vladimir Putin’s criminal pursuance of his war in Ukraine, last week brought to light yet another violation of the Geneva Conventions and other international laws and regulations by the Kremlin regime: the treatment of an army combatant — a Briton fighting with the Ukrainian forces — as a common criminal, and his arrest, trial, conviction and imprisonment on false charges of acting as a “mercenary.”

Davies, who joined the Ukrainian army in August 2024, was captured by Russian forces later that year or in early 2025. He is said to have traveled to Ukraine via Poland by bus, where he was paid $400-$500 per month by the Ukrainian military.

Russian prosecutors said that Davies “took part in military operations against the Russian armed forces on the territory of [Donetsk Region],” which he reportedly admitted at his trial. [Will Vernon, BBC, December 18, 2025.]

In those circumstances, Davies would be entitled to treatment as a prisoner of war. But Russia — which openly recruits military forces, as well as mercenaries, from numerous countries, including North Korea and Iran — has instead sentenced him to 13 years in a maximum-security prison.

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And Davies’ case has brought to light the similar treatment of 22-year old British citizen James Scott Rhys Anderson, who was captured while fighting for Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region last November. He was charged with terrorism and mercenary activity, and sentenced in March 2025 to 19 years in a strict-regime penal colony.

Russian investigators accused Anderson of “committing a terrorist act,” “[causing] significant damage to property,” and having “destabilised” the activities of authorities. [Emma Rossiter, BBC, March 5, 2025.]

Following Anderson’s conviction, a UK Foreign Office spokesman condemned the charges as false, saying:

“Under international law, prisoners of war cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities. We demand that Russia respect these obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions, and stop using prisoners of war for political and propaganda purposes. We remain in close contact with Mr Anderson’s family and are providing consular support.” [Id.]

And so it goes: Vladimir Putin continuing to take hostages, both civilian and military, in total contravention of any and all international laws and the norms of common decency. In Putin’s world, the only law is, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

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And, with the addition of Messrs. Davies and Anderson, here once more is our “honor roll” of political prisoners, spending yet another holiday season in captivity:

Europeans Under Threat:

The people of NATO and EU member states

Prisoners of War:

The 19,500 Kidnapped Ukrainian Children
The People of Ukraine

Immigrant Detainees in Russia:

Migrants from the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

Endangered Exiles:

Mikita Losik
Yulia Navalnaya
Countless Journalists and Other Dissidents

Political Prisoners:

In Azerbaijan:

The “Azerbaijan 7”:
— Farid Mehralizada
— Ulvi Hasanli
— Sevinj Abbasova (Vagifqiai)
— Mahammad Kekalov
— Hafiz Babali
— Nargiz Absalamova
— Elnara Gasimova

In Belarus:

Andrei Chapiuk
Uladzimir Labkovich
Andrzej Poczobut
Marfa Rabkova
Valiantsin Stafanovic
Yuras Zyankovich

In Georgia:

Mzia Amaglobeli

In China:

Chenyue Mao (American)

In Russia:

The “Crimea 8”:
— Oleg Antipov
— Artyom Azatyan
— Georgy Azatyan
— Aleksandr Bylin
— Roman Solomko
— Artur Terchanyan
— Dmitry Tyazhelykh
— Vladimir Zloba

James Scott Rhys Anderson (British)
David Barnes (American)
Gordon Black (American)
Hayden Davies (British)
Antonina Favorskaya
Konstantin Gabov
Robert Gilman (American)
Stephen James Hubbard (American)
Sergey Karelin
Timur Kishukov
Vadim Kobzev
Darya Kozyreva
Artyom Kriger
Michael Travis Leake (American)
Aleksei Liptser
Grigory Melkonyants
Nika Novak
Leonid Pshenychnov (in Russian-occupied Crimea)
Nadezhda Rossinskaya (a.k.a. Nadin Geisler)
Sofiane Sehili (French)
Igor Sergunin
Dmitry Shatresov
Robert Shonov
Grigory Skvortsov
Eugene Spector (American)
Laurent Vinatier
Robert Romanov Woodland (American)

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At this time of year, be assured that your families, friends, and countrymen have not forgotten you.

Wishing you a peaceful and hopeful Christmas, Chanukkah, and whatever else you may choose to commemorate.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
12/21/25