Government proposes expanding the list of Criminal Code articles under which convicts can be recruited for war

The government has proposed expanding the list of Criminal Code articles under which convicted people can be recruited for war

The government has submitted to the State Duma a bill expanding the list of Criminal Code articles under which defendants and convicted persons will be able to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry during mobilization, martial law, and wartime. The document, published in the electronic database of the lower house of parliament, was spotted by Verstka. The corresponding amendments are also planned for the Criminal Code.

The amendments to the law “On Military Duty and Military Service” propose removing from the list of barriers to contract service unexpunged or outstanding convictions, as well as criminal prosecution under a number of new charges:

💜Article 200.1 of the Criminal Code (cash smuggling), parts 1–3 and points “b” and “v” of part 4 of Article 229.1 (drug smuggling), and part 1 of Article 226.1 (smuggling of strategically important goods).

💜Part 2 of Article 209 (participation in a gang) and part 2 of Article 210 (participation in a criminal community).

💜Point “b” of part 2 of Article 215.4 (illegal entry into a protected facility) and Article 217.1 (violation of security and anti-terrorism protection requirements at fuel and energy facilities).

💜Parts 1–2 of Article 220 and part 1 of Article 221 (illegal handling, theft, and extortion involving nuclear materials and radioactive substances)

💜Part 2 of Article 322.1 (organization of illegal migration) and Article 284 of the Criminal Code (loss of documents containing state secrets).

These articles are proposed to be removed from the list of grounds preventing the signing of a contract. In the explanatory note, the government says the initiative is necessary for the “expansion of the range of persons with whom a contract for military service may be concluded” during mobilization, martial law, or wartime.

Current legislation already allows contracts to be signed with persons who have convictions or are under criminal prosecution for most offenses. The exceptions are crimes against the sexual integrity of minors, as well as a number of terrorist, extremist, sabotage, state, and some other crimes. The new amendments shrink that list even further, expanding the range of people who can go off to war.

🟪Earlier, Verstka wrote about the declining flow of people willing to sign a contract. Against that backdrop, the authorities continue to increase referral payments for contract soldiers, and in the corridors there are rumors about a possible rotation of reservists and even a new mobilization.

😘 Subscribe to @svobodnieslova and support Verstka — it matters