A London court has sentenced a 49-year-old Polish national, Piotr K., to two and a half years in prison, with an additional year of supervision, for asserting his affiliation with the Russian Wagner Group—a notorious paramilitary organization deemed a terrorist entity in the UK.
Piotr K., a builder residing in the UK, was apprehended in October last year during a Viking reenactment event, where he allegedly appeared in combat attire adorned with Wagner Group symbols. Witnesses reported that he brandished a dagger, made aggressive gestures, and claimed to have fought with the Wagner Group in Ukraine. He repeated these claims on social media and in messages to friends.
The British authorities launched an investigation, which included a search of his home, where they found extremist literature, including Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, and other fascist memorabilia. The anti-terrorism unit confirmed there was no evidence that Piotr K. had actually fought with Wagner or had been in Ukraine. However, officials stressed that posing as a member of a banned terrorist group is a serious offense under UK law.
The Polish man claimed he only pretended to be affiliated with Wagner to provoke reactions over differing views on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Nonetheless, prosecutor Frank Ferguson highlighted that his actions were motivated by extremist beliefs, creating fear by invoking the reputation of a terrorist organization.
Since the Wagner Group was classified as a terrorist organization in the UK in September of last year, any support or affiliation with the group has been illegal.