OAN Staff James Myers
3:27 PM – Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill that allows defendants in criminal cases to avoid prosecution if they join the military.
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The measure, the final version of which was posted on the Russian government's website on Wednesday, comes as Russia's military remains in high demand after more than two years of war in Ukraine.
Efforts have already begun to identify which of the thousands of defendants awaiting trial are suitable for military service, with “40% expected to serve,” according to reports.
The enlistment plan reportedly involves selecting 100 defendants from each of Russia's 210 pretrial detention centers.
According to I storyAs of early 2024, 106,000 people are in pre-detention, including individuals under investigation and convicted criminals.
The latest plan comes after Russian parliamentarians passed a bill allowing criminal defendants to serve in the military, ending a loophole that had previously limited enlistment to convicted criminals and suspects under investigation. It was announced right away. However, the changes are now subject to a single vote in the country's Federal Council and are expected to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.
The move was made to target criminal defendants to avoid public unrest due to a new wave of soldiers, rather than to solicit people to join the military.
Meanwhile, the war is straining Russia's resources. In September, Russia's president asked the military to increase its strength by 180,000 troops, and this week's government budget bill saw military spending reach a record high of 32.5%.
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