Putin bars extradition of foreigners fighting for Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a federal law prohibiting the extradition of foreign nationals and stateless individuals who are serving or have served under contract in the Russian Armed Forces and participated in combat operations, as per a government website.

The law amends Article 464 of Russia’s Criminal Procedure Code, stipulating that foreign citizens serving in the Russian military or other armed formations and involved in combat cannot be extradited to foreign countries upon request.

The legislation was passed by the State Duma on February 26, approved by the Federation Council on March 4, and officially published on March 8 on Russia’s legal information portal.

By Khagan Isayev