British troops in Ukraine could be prosecuted under ECHR

Defence Secretary dismisses calls to shield peacekeepers from threat of Russian ‘lawfare’

British peacekeeping troops sent to Ukraine could face prosecution under human rights laws.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, dismissed calls for a derogation from the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) despite fears UK soldiers could become targets of Russian “lawfare”.

He also confirmed in a letter, seen by The Telegraph, that the British contingent would not be a fighting force but rather provide training to the Ukrainians.

James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, had written to Mr Healey urging him to look at a derogation from the ECHR for peacekeeping troops.

He warned that Russia could use it to undermine UK forces, engineering clashes then pursuing human rights cases through the London courts.

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