The document, in particular, provides for the possibility of attracting foreigners who have concluded a contract for military service in the Russian army to “activities to maintain or restore international peace and security or to curb international terrorist activities outside the territory of the Russian Federation.”
Earlier the norm prescribed in the Regulations coincided with the norm of the Law “On Military Duty and Military Service,” according to which foreign military personnel can participate in “performing tasks in a state of martial law and in situations of armed conflict”, doing so in accordance with generally recognized principles and norms of international law, as well as international treaties and Russian legislation.
The law does not say anything about the participation of foreign employees in the Russian army in operations outside the territory of Russia. Foreigners can serve in the Russian army under contract only by soldiers, sailors, sergeants and sergeants, and have no right to occupy officer positions.
Unlike Russians, foreigners do not take the oath of “loyalty to the Fatherland” upon admission to military service, but they give the obligation to “observe the Constitution of the Russian Federation, strictly comply with the requirements of military regulations, orders of commanders and commanders, adequately fulfill their military duty.”
In accordance with the law, military formations of the Russian Armed Forces sent abroad to suppress international terrorist activities should be completed by contract soldiers on a voluntary basis. Currently, Russian servicemen are taking part in a military operation in Syria, but the Defense Ministry did not disclose information on the involvement of foreign contractors in military operations.