“The Criminal Code forbids Czech citizens to serve in foreign armies”, – WRITE: www.radiosvoboda.org
“Now we are engaged in a case of a Czech citizen who went to Russia some time ago, where he joined the Russian army and now asks for help from the Czech Republic. In this regard, we would like to remind you that we have long warned from traveling to Russia and we urge Czech citizens to leave the country. The situation with security is intense, our embassy in Moscow has limited opportunities for assistance and protection, ” – quotes Drake Czech edition Vinegret.cz.
According to Drake, the request of the Czech citizen, who ended up in the Russian army, will be considered by diplomacy in accordance with the Czech Laws and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The circumstances in which the unnamed man joined the army of the Russian Federation, whether he participated in the battles against Ukraine and when he arrived in Russia, the Czech Foreign Ministry did not specify.
The Criminal Code prohibits Czech citizens to serve in foreign armies. This is considered to be hired and punishable by prison, except when they are fighting on the side of the state that provides joint defense in the event of an attack on the Czech Republic. If the Czech volunteer wants to join a foreign army, he needs to invite a special permission to the Czech President. In November 2024, the Presidential Administration spokesman Philip Platosh reported that President Petr Pavel granted about 60 requests for the permission of the Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in view of the agreed position of the Ministries of Defense, Internal Affairs and Foreign Affairs.