CNN
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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that enlists citizens who have not been convicted or convicted of crimes for murder, robbery, theft, drug trafficking and other serious crimes to serve in the military under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
This made it possible to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people sentenced to probation or recently released from colonies previously barred from service.
The only criminals exempt from the Act are those who commit sexual crimes, treason, espionage or terrorism against minors. Those convicted of attempting to assassinate government officials, hijacking planes, engaging in extremist activities and illegally handling nuclear and radioactive materials were also excluded.
President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the Kremlin has mobilized more than 18,000 soldiers from Russia’s ordinary male population to fight in the war in Ukraine, exceeding its target of 300,000.
Earlier this week, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that all partial mobilizations, including subpoenas, had been suspended after officials said the goal of recruiting 300,000 troops had been achieved.
However, part of Putin’s mobilization order will only end when the Russian president signs a formal decree. Until then, he reserves the right to enlist more men in the future.
Yevgeny Prigozin, the head of Russia’s notorious Wagner unit, has apparently summoned prisoners from Russian prisons to join the mercenary group involved in the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
The amendments Putin signed have nothing to do with these so-called recruitments. Instead, the law applied to prisoners who were conditionally convicted or released from the colony. These people typically have to be under the supervision of authorities for eight to ten years until their convictions are vacated.
They are not allowed to leave their place of residence and must obey various restrictions.