Czech Citizen Who Joined the Russian Military Seeks Help from the Czech Government

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic is reviewing the case of a Czech citizen who traveled to Russia, joined the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and is now requesting assistance.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Daniel Drake announced this, reports the media outlet Ceske Noviny.

According to the Ministry, the case concerns a Czech citizen who was traveling in Russia, joined the Russian army there, and is now appealing to the Czech authorities for help.

The Ministry reiterated its consistent and urgent warnings against traveling to Russia and urged citizens who are already there to leave the country.

In this case, the Ministry will act in accordance with Czech law and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

The government has not yet disclosed how the situation with the Czech citizen serving in the Russian Armed Forces will unfold. However, it has stated that measures will be taken to secure his release and return to his homeland.

According to Czech law, citizens are prohibited from serving in foreign armies, except in cases involving the defense of a state that is an ally of the Czech Republic. To join a foreign military force, one must obtain permission from the President of the Republic.

In November 2024, presidential spokesperson Filip Patočka told Czech Radio that President Petr Pavel had approved around sixty applications to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, based on positive recommendations from the Ministries of Defense, Interior, and Foreign Affairs.

Czech citizens who joined the Ukrainian military without such permission may face criminal liability. However, they have the right to request a pardon, which must also be signed by the Prime Minister.

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that the security situation in Russia remains tense, and the embassy’s ability to provide assistance and protection is limited.

Militarnyi previously reported that the 21-year-old son of the Deputy Director of the CIA fought for Russia against Ukraine, having signed a contract with the Russian military, and was later killed.

The young man in question is Michael Gloss, son of Juliane Gallina Gloss, the CIA’s Deputy Director for Digital Innovation, and Iraq war veteran Larry Gloss.