Russia Prosecutes Former UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace Over Crimea Bridge Comments
Russia has officially placed former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace under investigation, citing an unspecified criminal case, according to state media reports referencing the Interior Ministry database. This legal action follows Wallace's controversial remarks made at the Warsaw Security Forum in September, where he advocated for Ukraine to acquire long-range capabilities to target the bridge connecting Russia to annexed Crimea. Wallace stated that destroying the infrastructure would make Crimea 'unviable' and signal to President Putin that he has something to lose. The move aligns with earlier calls by a Russian regional lawmaker in October for Wallace's international prosecution. Wallace, who served as defense minister until August 2023, has remained a vocal critic of Russian aggression and a proponent of increased military aid to Kyiv. While the specific charges remain unclear, this development adds to a growing list of European politicians reportedly targeted by Russian authorities. Wallace did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the investigation.
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