Russian lawmakers on Thursday (October 27th) approved changes to a law that would allow the mobilization of former detainees convicted of serious crimes who could now be sent to fight in Ukraine.
They include people who left prison eight years ago (noserious crimes“) or less than ten years ago (“particularly serious crimes“). Until now, the conscription law passed by President Vladimir Putin in September prohibited the recruitment of ex-convicts of this type.
“Protect our country”
From now on, only those who have been convicted of child abuse, hostage-taking or assault, illegal trafficking of radioactive materials, espionage or high treason cannot be mobilized, according to the amendments voted by the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, on Thursday. . Deputies also voted Thursday on a law regulating the presumed status of volunteerssupport the armed forcesduring armed conflicts or counter-terrorist operations in the country and outside its borders.
According to this law, they will especially havesame status as contract soldiers“. “It is true that they protect our country“Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Duma, said in a press release. The mobilization in Russia was decided after a series of setbacks for Moscow’s forces in Ukraine and has enabled the recruitment of more than 230,000 people, according to authorities’ estimates.
It also sparked protests in some regions and forced tens of thousands of Russians to flee the country to avoid conscription. There have also been many reported cases of mistakenly mobilizing ineligible men: students, extremely old or sick people, whom Vladimir Putin himself recognized.”mistakes“.
Source: Le Figaro
