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Russian prosecutors have filed criminal charges against Ben Wallace, who served as Britain's defense secretary from 2019 to 2023, over comments he made about bombing Crimea, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. The charges, filed in absentia, accuse Wallace of publicly calling for terrorist activity, a crime under Russian law.
The development follows a criminal investigation by Russia's Investigative Committee, which was reported by TASS in late May. Wallace is now subject to an international arrest warrant and a pretrial detention order issued by a Russian court.
Coverage Comparison
All reporting on this story comes from TASS, the Russian state news agency, which published two separate articles. The first, dated May 22, detailed the completion of an investigation by the Russian Investigative Committee. The second, dated June 4, reported that the Prosecutor General's Office had approved an indictment and referred the case to a military court.
Because only TASS has reported on this matter, the information reflects the official Russian government position. No independent or Western media coverage was available at the time of writing.
Key Claims
Wallace's Remarks: According to the Prosecutor General's Office, as quoted by TASS, Wallace made statements at the Warsaw Security Forum 2025, held in Poland in September 2025, that "contained calls for terrorist activities, including by providing Ukraine with long-range missile weapons to enable strikes on the Crimean Bridge." The statements were reportedly posted on video-sharing platforms, messaging apps, and news websites.
Legal Basis: Wallace is charged under Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Russian Criminal Code, which criminalizes public calls for terrorist activity made via the internet or other telecommunications networks. The charge carries a penalty of a fine between 300,000 and 1 million rubles (approximately $4,000 to $14,000) or an amount equivalent to the defendant's income over three years.
Status of the Case: The Prosecutor General's Office stated that Wallace is evading investigation and has been placed on an international wanted list. A pretrial detention order has been issued in absentia, and all investigative procedures that can be conducted without the accused have been completed. The case has been referred to the Second Western District Military Court for consideration on the merits.
Investigation Completion: The Investigative Committee's May report stated that investigators established Wallace called for terrorist activity on Russian territory and for providing Ukraine with long-range missiles to strike the Crimean Bridge. The committee also mentioned that Chairman Alexander Bastrykin held an operational meeting in Donetsk on crimes by Ukrainian forces, though this detail appeared in the same release.
Perspectives
The Russian government's perspective, as presented by TASS, is that Wallace's comments constituted a criminal act under Russian law and that the legal process is proceeding as it would for any individual accused of such a crime.
No response from Wallace, the British government, or any Western official has been reported. The charges follow a pattern of Russian legal actions against foreign officials whose statements Moscow deems threatening to its national security.
It should be noted that Russia does not recognize Ukrainian sovereignty over Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. The Crimean Bridge, which connects Russia to the peninsula, has been a target of Ukrainian attacks during the ongoing conflict.
The allegations against Wallace hinge on his reported statements at a security conference, which have not been independently verified. The lack of response from the accused or his government means the claims remain unchallenged in the public domain.