Watford man admits Russia's The Wagner Group membership

Piotr Daniel Kucharski, of The Glebe, appeared at the Old Bailey in London this afternoon (August 16) charged with professing to be a member of the banned military group between September 15 and October 28, 2023.

Although the 49-year-old denied the allegations on July 17, he changed his plea to guilty today, claiming he was "guilty that I was pretending that I was a member of the organisation”.

Piotr Kucharski pleaded guilty, claimed he was pretending to be a member of the Wagner Group. (Image: PA) Dan Pawson-Pounds, prosecuting, said: “There is no evidence that Mr Kucharski actually travelled to the location he claimed to have gone to, or engaged in the activities relating to the Wagner Group, so that is why the charge has been framed in the way it has.”

Wagner Group members in Belarus - the private military has operated in operated in Ukraine, Syria and multiple African states.raine (Image: Wikimedia) Simon Gledhill, defending, said: “In short, he told people, and gave the impression that, he was a member of the group” rather than being an actual member.

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• Watford man in court over 'The Wagner Group membership'

Kucharski, whose address is listed in Watford but told the court he is from Poland, stood in the dock wearing a black blazer over a black t-shirt and spoke via a translator.

The 49-year-old was charged and named earlier this year following an investigation by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).

He was released on conditional bail until his sentencing hearing at the same court on November 1.

Kucharski changed his plea to guilty at the Old Bailey this afternoon. (Image: PA Archive/PA Images) The Old Bailey also heard he was previously convicted and served a 15-year sentence for armed robbery in Poland.

Government guidelines state that any "prominent member" of a proscribed organisation can be jailed for up to 14 years, although sentencing for more minor offences ranges from a high level community order to four years' custody. 

The Wagner Group is a Russian private military company which was added to the UK government’s list of proscribed organisations in September 2023 amid allegations it had acted as a "malign proxy military force" for the Russian state.

The Wagner Group is banned by the UK government over fears it acted as a malign proxy military force for Russia. (Image: Wikimedia) The group is accused of using “serious violence” against Ukrainian civilians and armed forces to “advance Russia’s political aims”, according to the Home Office guidance.

It is also alleged to have carried out preparatory acts for terrorism and has been implicated by the government in “serious acts of violence” in certain African states.

Note: this story has been updated to add that Kucharski claimed he was only "pretending" to be involved in the group.