Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved critical amendments to the country’s criminal code, permitting criminal suspects to avoid prosecution if they join the military and fight in Ukraine.
Under the new policy, criminal proceedings against accused individuals will be automatically suspended if they sign up for military service with any unit in Russia.
All charges will also be dropped if they receive a state award or are discharged due to injuries sustained in combat.
The privilege does not apply to felonies such as treason, terrorism, espionage, and sex crimes.
Previously, only convicted prisoners and detainees with cases not yet submitted to court were allowed to have their charges terminated by joining the army.
The amendments are expected to expand Moscow’s pool of contract servicemen fighting in Ukraine.
20,000 Defendants Expected to Be Taken
According to local investigative news outlet IStories, there are approximately 60,000 people awaiting criminal trials in Russia.
Efforts are reportedly underway to identify who among them might be fit for military service.
Anonymous military and legal sources estimate that only around 40 percent — or at least 100 detainees from each of Russia’s 210 pre-trial detention centers — are expected to be enlisted.
“Previously, if a case was not transferred to court, it was a minus for them. But now they take a person, persuade him to sign a contract right away — it’s a plus for them, and they also get bonuses,” one source noted.
Running Out of Volunteers?
Last month, Putin announced plans to boost the number of its active-duty soldiers in Russia to 1.5 million, aiming to become the second-largest military in the world behind China.
To achieve that, Moscow has employed controversial mobilization strategies, including offering freedom to criminals in exchange for participation in the war.
However, a source close to the military’s General Staff claimed that the country is now running out of convicted prisoners willing to fight in Ukraine.
“The decision to send defendants … indicates that the influx of prisoners is drying up, it is no longer as before. Those convicted of light charges, those who do not have long to serve, are not very willing to go to war,” the source argued.