Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a law exempting defendants from criminal liability if they join the Russian army, aiming to conscript 40% of the nearly 60,000 prisoners currently held in pre-trial detention centers. This move comes as part of Russia’s recruitment efforts for the war in Ukraine, with plans to send about 100 people from each center to serve in the conflict. The legislation allows for the suspension of criminal proceedings and the cancellation of preventive measures for defendants during military service, providing them with full exemption from criminal liability upon completion.
Since summer 2022, Moscow has been recruiting convicts for its war efforts, with the UK Defense Ministry estimating recruitment rates of around 30,000 people per month. Putin recently signed a decree for the draft of 133,000 Russians between October and January, targeting men aged 18 to 30 for conscription. This fall campaign also includes areas like Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Despite speculation for a new mobilization, the Kremlin has delayed the process, raising concerns about troop shortages.
This controversial legislation raises questions about the ethics of using prisoners for military service and the implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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