Russia has put former British defense secretary Ben Wallace on its wanted list in connection with an unspecified criminal case, state media said, citing a Russian interior ministry database.The database entry reportedly said Wallace was “wanted on criminal charges,” but authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact charges against him.Russian state news agency TASS reported that the case may be linked to terrorism-related charges, citing an unnamed law enforcement source.Wallace served as UK defense secretary from 2019 to 2023, including during the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.After leaving government, he continued to publicly support increased military aid to Ukraine and frequently criticized the Kremlin’s conduct during the war.Moscow’s move comes months after Wallace made remarks about Crimea at a Warsaw security forum.Speaking at last September’s event, Wallace argued that Ukraine should be supported by long-range military capabilities to target Russian-controlled Crimea.“We must help Ukraine have the long-range capabilities to make Crimea unviable,” Wallace told the forum.“We need to kill life in Crimea,” he added.He also called for a crackdown on the bridge connecting Russia and Crimea, saying: “We need to destroy this cursed bridge.”Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move widely condemned by Western governments but not recognized by the international community.Commenting on Moscow’s decision to put him on its wanted list, Wallace dismissed the move as politically motivated.“I am not surprised by Russia’s latest actions at a time when the Kremlin is failing at home and abroad,” Wallace said in an email to Reuters.“The whole world knows that Russia illegally invaded Ukraine four years ago,” he added, accusing the Kremlin of sacrificing Russian lives “for Putin’s ego”.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier criticized Wallace’s comments about Crimea, reportedly calling them “stupid.”
