Previously, only convicted individuals or those under investigation could be mobilized for the war.
Under the new law, people facing court proceedings may be released from criminal responsibility if they sign a contract with the military or are mobilized. This applies during mobilization periods, states of emergency, or wartime. Court proceedings against them will be suspended during their military service, and preventive measures will be lifted.
According to reports, around 20,000 individuals currently in pre-trial detention could be sent to fight in Ukraine.
The law also allows the suspension of court cases for crimes committed during military service under mobilization or wartime conditions. Such individuals could potentially be fully cleared of charges if they receive state awards or are discharged from the military due to age, health, or the end of mobilization. The mobilization decree has been in place since September 2022.
Previously, Russian regulations prohibited signing military contracts if the accused were already in court, but allowed for relief from criminal charges at the investigation stage or after a court ruling. These legal changes come amid Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
(jh)
Source: PAP