Is using mercenaries a war crime?

The United States does not view the mere act of being a mercenary as a crime under international law. 57 Thus, mercenaries may be afforded Prisoner of War (POW) status, but only if they meet the requirements thereof—such as being considered a member of the militia or the armed forces of the nation.
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Are mercenaries a war crime?

The Geneva Conventions declare that mercenaries are not recognized as legitimate combatants and do not have to be granted the same legal protections as captured service personnel of the armed forces.
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Do war crimes apply to mercenaries?

Under international humanitarian law, being a mercenary does not constitute a specific crime. The same holds true for the Statute of the International Criminal Court. If arrested, mercenaries are not entitled to the status of prisoners of war, but the detaining power can decide to treat them according to this status.
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Is becoming a mercenary legal?

The 1989 International Convention made the recruitment, use, training, and financing of mercenaries illegal. It also forbids the recruitment of people to fight in an armed conflict or for private gain.
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Do mercenaries have POW rights?

Mercenaries lack the combatant's privilege and therefore denied the POW status, and are considered “civilians”. The criteria for being a mercenary must be met collectively.
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INSIDE: The War Crimes of Russian Mercenaries in Syria



Are mercenaries considered civilians?

In simplest terms, a mercenary is an armed civilian paid to do military operations in a foreign conflict zone. For example, civilians conducting direct actions or training troops in foreign conflict zones are mercenaries because they are performing uniquely military functions.
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Why does the US hire mercenaries?

The use of mercenaries is not going away anytime soon. They're a way for countries to augment their military and get them to perform dangerous activities that no regular soldier would be involved in. And it's not only the US that uses them either.
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Does the CIA hire mercenaries?

If you are interested in more “mercenary-like” or operations-based employment through the CIA, the National Clandestine Service offers two entry-level programs: the Professional Trainee (PT) and the Clandestine Service (CST) program.
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Which country has the most mercenaries?

One of the most prolific users of mercenaries is Russia, which has used such groups to expand its presence and influence in various hotspots around the world. Rather than deploying large numbers of military forces into conflict zones, Russia has increasingly sent mercenaries to accomplish the mission.
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How many US mercenaries died in Afghanistan?

The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed that by March 31, 2021, a total of 1,822 civilian contractors were killed in Afghanistan, of which, during the period between June 2009 and April 2010, 260 were private security contractors.
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Which countries allow mercenaries?

Private force has become big business. No one knows how many billions of dollars move around in this illegal market. Since the turn of the century, mercenary activity has played a major role in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Nigeria, Ukraine, Syria and Libya.
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Is private military legal?

Most of time the relation between PMCs and mercenaries or freelance soldiers fighting for money, is questioned by global public opinion. However, mercenaries are banned by international laws while PMCs are considered legal.
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