"Not Our War": Iraq Officially Rejects Recruitment of Its Youth into the Russian Army, Threatening Imprisonment

Baghdad has issued a formal diplomatic refusal to Moscow regarding any attempts to recruit Iraqi nationals into the Russian Armed Forces or any other foreign military groups. During a meeting between Iraq’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Saeed Muhammad Hussain Bahr al-Uloom, and Russian Ambassador Elbrus Kutrashev on Sunday, Iraq emphasized that safeguarding its youth from being dragged into international conflicts is a top national priority.

Legally, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council has clarified that under the Iraqi Penal Code, any citizen joining a foreign military without official government authorization faces severe penalties, including life imprisonment. This firm stance follows reports of nearly 5,000 Iraqis allegedly being lured by promises of citizenship and high salaries, only to find themselves on the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war. Iraq remains committed to its policy of neutrality and non-interference in global power struggles.