Czech who joined the Russian army now asks to be freed.

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to assist a Czech citizen who joined the Russian army and is now asking for help

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considering the case of a Czech citizen who joined the Russian army and is now seeking assistance from his homeland. A representative of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Drake, stated: 'We are currently dealing with the case of a Czech citizen who traveled to Russia, joined the Russian army, and is asking for help from the Czech authorities.' Drake urged Czech citizens to refrain from traveling to Russia due to the tense security situation.

«In this regard, we would like to remind you that we have long urged against traveling to Russia and call on Czech citizens to leave the country. The security situation is tense, and our embassy in Moscow has limited capabilities to provide assistance and protection», - explained Drake.

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs will consider the request of the Czech citizen who joined the Russian army according to the country's internal laws and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. It is currently unknown whether this man is involved in military actions and when exactly he arrived in Russia.

Czechs choose the Armed Forces of Ukraine, not the Russian army

In March 2022, Czech President Petr Pavel granted permission to 60 Czech citizens to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This became possible after more than 180 Czechs requested to join the Ukrainian army. Previously, there were reports that Czechs were unwilling to serve in their own army.

Czech legislation prohibits citizens from serving in foreign armies without permission. However, in cases where the collective defense of the Czech Republic requires the participation of foreigners, such actions may be approved on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, Czech volunteers wishing to serve in military formations of other countries must obtain permission from the country's president.