US Is Weighing a Terrorism Label for Russia’s Wagner Group Mercenaries
- The group’s troops are fighting in Ukraine and in Africa
- Its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin is a close ally of Putin
Photographer: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
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The Biden administration is weighing whether to label Russia’s Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization, two people familiar with the matter said, as part of efforts to handicap the privately owned military company’s involvement in Ukraine and its growing presence in Africa.
The administration has made no final decision on the designation, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. Labeling Wagner a foreign terrorist organization would allow the US to pursue criminal prosecution against the group and its members, as well as go after its assets around the globe.