Images currently being broadcast by Russian state television show five men standing behind bars in a courtroom in Russian-controlled Donetsk.

One of the defendants is a 47-year-old Swedish man.

Three of them, including the Swede, are accused of having fought as mercenaries on Ukraine's side in the war, which in the breakaway republic, which is not internationally recognized, can be punished with death.

Denies the allegations

During a filmed interrogation in court, the 47-year-old denies that he was paid to fight.

All defendants deny the charges.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry confirms to SVT Nyheter that a Swede in "45 years of age" has been charged and adds:

"The conflict in Ukraine is to be regarded as an international armed conflict.

It is therefore important to emphasize that the parties must comply with international humanitarian law (IHL).

It is central to underline that combatants have the right to prisoner of war status if they are captured and may not be punished for their participation in the armed conflict.”

Three foreign soldiers, two British and one Moroccan, have previously been sentenced to death by a court in Donetsk since they were considered mercenaries.

The UK government has said it is working to get its citizens on death row released.

Supposed to have been taken at Azovstal

The 47-year-old has not lived in Sweden for several years.

According to information to SVT Nyheter, he goes by a different name in Ukraine than he does in Sweden.

Russian media say the man was taken prisoner at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol in May after the Russian siege of the area.

The Swede's and the other four accused's cases are to be taken up again by the court in October, Russian media reports.

SVT Nyheter is looking for the man's family.

Connects to anonymous account

Several people that SVT Nyheter spoke to link the 47-year-old to an anonymous account on social media, which is run by a Swedish man who, together with the Azov Battalion, is fighting in Ukraine.

A series of posts describe the siege of Azovstal, the artillery shelling and the living conditions.

Just days before the Ukrainian forces in the area surrendered, the account stopped updating with new posts.

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