Bibichadze Aleksi

In the Kursk region, no later than November 2024, a criminal case was initiated in absentia against 35-year-old Georgian citizen Alexi Bibichadze. He was accused of mercenarism, committing a terrorist act, murder and attempted murder of two or more persons, as well as intentional damage to another's property, illegal border crossing, use of violence against a representative of authority and other crimes committed as part of an organized group on the grounds of political and ideological hatred. According to the Russian investigation, Bibichadze participated in an armed conflict as a mercenary for material reward. At the end of August 2024, he, as part of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, illegally invaded the territory of the Kursk region, where he "committed criminal acts aimed at killing and attempting to kill the civilian population in order to intimidate and destabilize the activities of the authorities." At the request of the investigation, the court in absentia chose a preventive measure for Bibichadze in the form of detention. Later, the charge was reclassified, leaving the charges of mercenarism and committing a terrorist act by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, which caused significant damage. On March 18, 2025, the 2nd Western District Military Court found Alexi Bibichadze guilty in absentia and sentenced him to 25 years of imprisonment, with the first 6 years to be served in prison, and the remainder in a strict regime correctional colony. On July 2, 2025, the Appellate Military Court upheld the verdict.