President Vladimir Putin has signed a law refusing the extradition to foreign countries of individuals participating in military operations against Ukraine as part of the Russian Armed Forces.
Modern.az reports that the document has been published on the official legal information portal.
According to the new rules, foreign citizens and stateless persons currently serving or having completed service under contract in the Russian Armed Forces and other military formations, as well as those participating in combat operations, will not be extradited.
The new rules will serve as grounds for refusing requests from foreign states for the extradition of such persons for criminal prosecution or the execution of a sentence.
It should be noted that among the foreigners participating in the war against Ukraine in the military formations of the Russian Armed Forces are also citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan had issued a statement regarding this a few months ago, warning that these individuals would be held criminally liable.
“According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, mercenary activity, i.e., acting with the aim of obtaining material reward by a person who is not a citizen of the state participating in a military conflict and military operations, does not permanently reside on its territory, and is not sent to perform official duties, as well as participation in the activities of armed formations or groups not provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan, is considered a crime, and for these acts, penalties of deprivation of liberty for a certain period (from 8 to 20 years) or life imprisonment are stipulated.
It is brought to the attention of our citizens that participation in armed formations not provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan is considered a crime, regardless of any ideological, material, personal, or other interests,” the official statement read.
Criminal cases have already been initiated by the relevant law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Azerbaijan against several of our citizens engaged in such activities, and preliminary investigations in some cases have been completed and sent to the relevant courts for consideration, with appropriate judgments issued against those whose guilt has been proven, sentencing them to long-term deprivation of liberty. Preliminary investigations are currently ongoing for other criminal cases in this category.
A.Qorxmaz
