The father of a British prisoner of war who was imprisoned for 19 years by a Russian court after being captured in Ukraine, told how he feared that “his life is over” – and said that the family “pray” for him to be liberated under a prisoner -wap.
James Anderson, 22, was convicted by a Russian military court after being accused of 'crimes committed as part of the Ukrainian army in the Kursk region'.
The former soldier of the British army, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, was accused of acting as a mercenary on behalf of Ukraine and the violation of Russian terrorist law.
His father Scott Anderson told The Daily Mail: 'I just feel his life past. At 22, 19 years old is a long time to get. It will be difficult for him who is unable to contact his family, and it is heartbreaking for me and his mother.
“I think the sentence is ridiculous. I hope that a prisoner can be made. I only pray that something can be done to get it at home. '
Mr Anderson Sr said that today he only learned about the conviction of his son of media reports and then contacted officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has had no communication from the former Ukrainian unity of his son since his conquest last November.
The conviction was heard in a closed court session on Friday, reported the 2nd Western Military District District.
Mr. Anderson JR was claimed to have admitted “guilt” and said he had decided to participate in the war in exchange.
James Scott Rhys Anderson was sentenced on Friday to 19 years in prison
His father said he fears that his son's life is 'over'
James with his sister. He had been to the army for four years, after he went to Army Foundation College as a 17-year-old
He has been in a Russian prison for five years and the rest of his sentence in an unnamed maximum colony for safety trick, Russian sources said.
Mr Anderson Sr said that he is' afraid of 'thinking' what his son 'is going through'.
He added: 'We were unable to talk to him or have contact. The only thing we have had to trust is what the press released in Russia. They say that he has no health status and that he is being treated well. We must take their word. '
Images of the sentence session Show Mr. Anderson, were closely cut to her, were in the glass in front of the front of the courtroom, in black and gray prison clothing.
When the news about his catch broke in November, Mr Anderson Sr, 41, told the Daily Mail that he feared that his son would be tortured and said he and other family members had begged him not to go to Ukraine eight months earlier.
Anderson had spent four years in the army, after he joined a 17-year-old and went to Army Foundation College, Harrogate, before he came to the Royal Corps of Signals. He later worked as a civil custody officer for the police of Thames Valley.
He said: “I didn't want him to go. I tried not to persuade him not to go – my whole family tried to convince him.
“He wanted to go outside because he thought he was doing what was good. He was dead against what happened to the Ukrainian people. '
Anderson JR had spent four years in the army, after he joined a 17-year-old and went to Army Foundation College, Harrogate, before he came to the Royal Corps of Signals. He later worked as a civil custody officer for the police of Thames Valley.
Five of the six British prisoners who were previously held in Ukraine by separatists supported by Russia, although one died in custody.
Anderson is reportedly crossed in mid -November 2024 with firearms and explosives with firearms and explosives
He reportedly blamed and said he was motivated by financial compensation
In 2022, six British nationals – hunters Sean Pinner, Aiden Aslin, Andrew Hill and John Harding, and help volunteers Dylan Healy and Paul Urey – were captured by Separatists supported by Kremlin and threatened with the death penalty.
Father-of-four Mr Urey, 45 years old, died in Russian imprisonment, while the other five were finally released in September of that year after negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, mediated by Saudi Arabia and with former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.
