Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law the conscription of citizens with unclear or pending convictions for murder, robbery, theft, drug trafficking and other serious crimes under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
This makes it possible to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people who have been sentenced to probation or have recently been released from colonies that were previously prohibited from serving.
The only group of criminals exempted from the decree are those who have committed sex crimes against minors, treason, espionage or terrorism. Also excluded are those convicted of attempted assassination of a government official, hijacking a plane, extremist activity and illegal handling of nuclear materials and radioactive substances.
President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that the Kremlin has already mobilized an additional 18,000 troops above its target of 300,000 to fight in the war in Ukraine from Russia’s general male population.
Earlier this week, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that all partial mobilization activities, including call-up deliveries, had been suspended after officials said the plan’s goal of recruiting 300,000 people had been met.
However, Putin’s partial mobilization order will end only when the Russian President signs an official decree. Until then, it reserves the right to conscript more people into military conscription in the future.
The head of Russia’s infamous Wagner forces, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has apparently conscripted prisoners from Russian prisons to join his mercenary group in the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
The amendments signed by Putin are not related to these alleged hirings. Instead, the law applies to prisoners who were sentenced to parole or released from colonies. These people usually must remain under the supervision of the authorities for eight to ten years until the conviction is overturned.
They are not allowed to leave their place of residence and must comply with various restrictions.
