Prosecutor’s office investigating nine cases over involvement of minors in armed groups

Eight teenagers were convicted in Donetsk region for cooperation with the illegal armed groups.

Another nine cases over the participation of teenagers in the illegal armed groups are now being investigated, the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine informs.

“Carrying out their deliberate unlawful actions as part of the armed groups, they systematically performed their duties to counteract and obstruct discharging of the official duties by the law enforcement bodies of Ukraine and the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, involved in the conduct of the anti-terrorist operation. In addition, the minors were guarding the premises, seized by the militants, and were on duty at the checkpoints,” reads the statement.

“It should be noted that most of those teenagers voluntarily left the illegal armed groups, came to the police to confess, repented sincerely and actively promoted the exposure of crimes. They may be released from criminal prosecution by the courts under such circumstances,” the Prosecutor General’s Office notes.

As a reminder, Ukraine ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (on the involvement of children in armed conflict). According to Article 4 of the Protocol, “the armed groups that are distinct from the armed forces of a state should not, under any circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities persons under the age of 18 years.”