What happens if a mercenary gets captured?

If, after a regular trial, a captured soldier is found to be a mercenary, then he can expect treatment as a common criminal and may face execution. As mercenary soldiers may not qualify as PoWs, they cannot expect repatriation at war's end.
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Can mercenaries be executed?

[25] Consequently, the summary execution of mercenaries is prohibited. According to this rule, States are free to grant prisoner-of-war status to a mercenary or withhold it, but the mercenary has no right to claim such status as a defence against prosecution.
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Can mercenaries be tried for war crimes?

Human rights abuses and humanitarian law violations by mercenaries must not be allowed to go unpunished by States and the international community. Violations must be investigated, prosecuted and sanctioned, and effective remedies provided to victims.”
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Do mercenaries have POW status?

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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Do mercenaries have immunity?

The protections of [common] article 3 [of the 1949 Geneva Conventions] would also apply to any captured individual accused of being a mercenary during a civil war. [Common Article 3] does not provide any immunity from prosecution to individuals for engaging in combatant acts.
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Brits captured by Russian forces sentenced to death in Ukraine



Does Geneva Convention protect mercenaries?

Mercenaries are not entitled to the status of combatant, prisoner of war (API Article 47), or any of the categories of protected persons provided for by the Geneva Conventions, unless they are wounded or sick, although they must always benefit from humane treatment.
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Are mercenaries criminals?

A mercenary, as defined in article 1 of this Convention, who participates directly in hostilities or in a concerted act of violence, as the case may be, commits an international crime for the purposes of the Convention.
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Can I become a mercenary?

If you want to become a mercenary, the first thing you need to do is get military or law enforcement work experience. Join the military and put in your time. Follow orders, get fit, learn languages, and gain experience.
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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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Can POW camps be targeted?

Retained personnel are NOT to be held until the end of the conflict. POWs are entitled to special protections. We are supposed to keep POWs separated from the battlefield if at all possible. POW camps are supposed to be marked and are not legal targets.
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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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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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How do I become a mercenary without military experience?

How to get a private military contractor job with no military experience
  1. Earn a degree. ...
  2. Complete firearms training. ...
  3. Maintain your physical fitness. ...
  4. Ensure you meet all qualifications. ...
  5. Gain experience in a security or defense role. ...
  6. Apply for military contractor jobs that don't require military experience.
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Do hunters make good soldiers?

Hunters make good soldiers because they already possess the fundamentals of marksmanship, and most attended firearms safety classes at age 10.
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Who is the deadliest mercenary in the world?

5 of the deadliest mercenary armies throughout history
  • The Apiru/Habiru. When the Amarna Letters were discovered, the world was introduced to a group of people the Egyptians called Apiru or, in Akkadian, “Habiru.” ...
  • The Ten Thousand. ...
  • The Varangian Guard. ...
  • The White Company. ...
  • Henry MacIver.
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What are the biggest mercenaries?

5 Of the World's Most Elite Mercenary Armies
  • Academi.
  • Defion Internacional.
  • Aegis Defense Services.
  • Triple Canopy.
  • G4S Secure Solutions.
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What jobs do mercenaries do?

A mercenary will perform roles that range from training, advising, technical, maintenance, or direct security support for pay that is higher than typically realized by those serving in the armed forces of their home country due to the increased risk and austere locations of assignment.
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Is Blackwater a mercenary group?

In the book, Scahill contends that Blackwater exists as a mercenary force, and argues that Blackwater's rise is a consequence of the demobilization of the US military following the Cold War and its overextension in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Do mercenaries have rights?

No U.S. law currently restricts or prohibits U.S. persons from serving in a foreign mercenary force. Only the U.S. government is restricted from hiring mercenaries under what is known as the Anti-Pinkerton Act of 1893.
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Do spies have rights?

Their protection under the terms of the law is limited. If they are captured, they do not have the right to prisoner-of-war status. They can be punished for their activities. They must nevertheless be treated humanely and have the right to a fair trial.
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Are mercenaries illegal under international law?

The United Nations Mercenary Convention, officially the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, is a 2001 United Nations treaty that prohibits the recruitment, training, use, and financing of mercenaries.
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Are there mercenary schools?

The choice can be found in the backwoods of Alabama, the mountains of Colorado and the desert of Arizona. It can cost $2,500.
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How much do Blackwater mercenaries make?

For example, Blackwater contractor salary is estimated to fall between $9,000 and $22,500 a month, according to the Blackwaterusa.com website. Silent Professionals pays maritime security officers in Africa between $700 and $800 per day.
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How much do CIA contractors make?

Reliable and detailed statistics are hard to find, mostly because many private military contractors work for the CIA and all aspects of their agreements are confidential. Nevertheless, most contractors earn between $300 and $750 a day, or between $9,000 and $22,500 per month.
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