Putin will recruit criminals in future mobilizations

Russian law prohibited men from serving in the Army who, even when released, had a serious criminal record behind them.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
04 November 2022 Friday 13:30
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Putin will recruit criminals in future mobilizations

Russian law prohibited men from serving in the Army who, even when released, had a serious criminal record behind them. With the conflict in Ukraine in the background, this restriction will be partially eliminated as of this Friday, after the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has signed a reform of the law on military mobilization that allows men who have committed serious crimes to be called up. crimes, including murder.

The head of the Kremlin has stamped his signature on the new rule after the Duma (Lower House of Parliament) and the Federation Council (equivalent to the Senate) approved the law on military mobilizations.

It is not about prisoners, something that is still vetoed, but about personnel who are on probation, in the third degree or who, without having set foot in jail, have a serious record.

The law continues to exclude, however, those who have been convicted of particularly sensitive crimes. Those who have been convicted of sexual abuse of minors, treason against the State, espionage, terrorism, hostage-taking, organization of an illegal armed group cannot be called up for military service through a mobilization, like the one Putin decreed in September. or armed rebellion. Nor to those who have been found guilty of hijacking an aircraft, maritime or rail transport, or handling nuclear material illegally.

In addition, the reform opens the possibility that conscientious objectors who perform alternative social service in central Executive bodies or in regional and local administrations can be sent to the Armed Forces to do civilian work.