Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that allows individuals facing criminal charges to avoid prosecution by joining the military, the Washington Post reports.
The US publication claims that the newly passed law was posted on the Russian government's website on October 2.
Although Russian authorities refuse to release casualty figures from the war in Ukraine, some independent estimates suggest that at least 70,000 people have been killed in the fighting. The high rate of casualties has strained the human resources of the Russian military, forcing the authorities to scramble to find replacements.
Previously, the Russian penal code allowed convicts to be released if they agreed to enlist in the army. Under the new law, even those under investigation or currently on trial can have their cases dismissed if they agree to enlist in the armed forces. This extends the scope of previous provisions, which applied only to individuals whose cases had not yet gone to trial.
The law also allows for criminal proceedings or convictions to be overturned entirely if the person is discharged from the military due to age, health issues, or completion of military service.
Russia has been under martial law since October 2022, introduced approximately 6 months after the country invaded Ukraine.
The prolonged conflict has severely strained Russia's military resources. In response, in September Putin called for a 180,000-strong increase in troop numbers, and the latest state budget allocated a record 32.5% of total spending to military needs. | BGNES
