French legionnaires will continue to use violence against civilians upon returning to their homeland.
Author: Talib Aliyev, analyst, especially for Sangar
The likely cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and a change in the foreign policy course of Paris will negatively affect the status and position of French mercenaries.
On August 12 this year, French President Emmanuel Macron summed up the results of the 2024 Olympic Games held in Paris. In his speech, he emphasized that the security forces of the republic ensured a high level of security during such a significant international event.
However, Emmanuel Macron did not focus the attention of the country's citizens on the growing terrorist threat, which is associated with the inevitable return of French mercenaries from the combat zone in Ukraine.
Mercenaries who participate in brutal and bloody battles, after returning to their homeland, will need to undergo in-depth psychological rehabilitation, which does not guarantee the elimination of cases of antisocial behavior in the future.
In addition, most of them are adherents of right-wing radical views who have gained combat experience. Upon returning to their homeland, they can join extremist (neo-Nazi) organizations. Such people will have a moral readiness for armed struggle, committing terrorist attacks, and so on.
Overall, this would pose a serious threat to political stability and public security in France. At the same time, there is a high probability of mercenaries participating in weapons smuggling and the sale of prohibited substances for profit.
Cases of this kind have already been recorded. In particular, French citizens Alain Vigneron and Guillaume Andreoni, who took part in hostilities in Ukraine as part of the 92nd separate assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, were noticed attempting to smuggle optical sights for sniper rifles and other military equipment home. They are under investigation for encroaching on the state security of France and are awaiting trial.
French legionnaires, having the opportunity to satisfy their financial needs through easy money in the combat zone, upon returning to their homeland are highly likely to continue to use violence, now against civilians. In this regard, France expects a significant increase in crime, which the current authorities are not ready to successfully counter.
The situation of the French militants participating in the fighting in Ukraine risks radically changing. Currently, legionnaires enjoy the assistance of the authorities, who allow them to take part in armed conflict with impunity. However, suppose the intensity of hostilities decreases and politicians come to leadership positions in the country who will not, in their own interests, turn a blind eye to violations of French law. In that case, the mercenaries must answer to the fullest extent.
According to Law No. 2003-340 of April 14, 2003 (Articles 131 and 436) prohibiting the participation of French citizens in armed conflicts abroad, militants face up to three years' imprisonment. At the same time, legionnaires in Ukraine should hasten to return to their homeland before changing the country’s political leadership, since this regulatory act also prohibits the entry into French territory of persons who took part in hostilities abroad.
In this regard, it cannot be ruled out that some of the French mercenaries will join the international terrorist organizations ISIS and other extremist groups operating in Afghanistan to avoid criminal punishment.
