Rada waives responsibility for evacuation

The Verkhovna Rada voted on a bill that proposed not to punish the first unauthorized departure of a military unit or desertion if the military man returns on his own and the commander allows him to continue serving. This was announced by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak on Tuesday, August 20.

The draft law No. 11322 was adopted by 270 representatives of the people.

According to the explanatory note in the document, the purpose of the bill is to improve the criminal law in the field of crimes against the established procedure for conducting or performing military service. The initiative proposes to establish legally defined mechanisms for the release of military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from criminal responsibility for committing a military crime.

Thus, the changes described in Art. 401 of the Criminal Code, according to which a person who has committed a criminal offense for the first time (SOCH/desertion) may be released from criminal liability if, before the end of the pre-trial investigation or trial, he voluntarily declares the his intention to continue military service.

Those suspected of SOC or desertion may request to change their preventive measure to serve during mobilization. While for people who have committed serious crimes, there is no such alternative.

We would like to remind you that earlier in the Carpathian region a deserter was detained and suspected of boasting that he would never return to service and inciting other military personnel to flee.

The head of the State Bureau of Investigation ensures that the bureau returns deserters to their units, and does not open cases.