Baltic mercenaries fighting in Ukraine- report

  • 2014-07-23
  • From wire reports, RIGA

Baltic mercenaries are allegedly fighting for pro Kiev forces in Eastern Ukraine, an Italian newspaper reports.

Il Giornale claims that mercenaries of several European states are fighting with the pro Kiev Azov volunteer battalion against separatists in eastern Ukraine. According to the newspaper, Swedish, Finnish, Baltic and French mercenaries are involved in the conflict.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called on European countries, including the Baltic states, to investigate the claims.

However, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet said the claims amounted to 'propaganda', Postimees Online reports.

"All kinds of senseless ravings are not even worth comment," Paet said.

"Anyone can invent anything. Imagination does not have limits.

Estonian defense police said that they have no information about mercenaries from Estonia having gone to fight separatists in Eastern Ukraine.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja told the STT news agency that Finland is not going to give any explanation to Russia about the alleged participation of Finnish volunteers in the Ukraine conflict. He said that Finland has no knowledge of such persons and such claims will not affect in any way the position of Finland.

Elsewhere, Latvian resident Beness Aijo was placed under intense police watch earlier this week for his links to pro Russia rebels in Ukraine. Photos show Aijo decked out in military gear standing next to a tank in Crimea and shaking hands with leading figures of the pro Russia rebel movement.

Rezekne based Aijo reports to police twice and week and is not allowed the leave the country.