Morocco Denies Mercenary Status of Citizen Sentenced to Death in Ukraine Conflict

According to a statement from the kingdom’s embassy in Kiev, the Moroccan student who "enlisted in the Ukrainian army of his own free will, is currently imprisoned by an entity that is recognized neither by the United Nations nor by Morocco."

"Saadoun is captured wearing the uniform of the Ukrainian state army, as a member of a Ukrainian Navy unit." He is therefore not a mercenary, as his jailers have accused him of, the embassy said.

"In his statements, the person concerned confirmed that he had enlisted, of his own free will, in the Ukrainian army. He even indicated that he had Ukrainian nationality, statements that have also been confirmed by his father," the same source concluded.