The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a bill allowing those convicted of minor crimes to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Hromadska reports. 279 parliamentarians voted “for”, 11 abstained. No one was “against”.
The document allows the courts to release on parole those convicted who have entered into a contract with the Ukrainian army. According to the authors of the bill, this will help staff the Armed Forces of Ukraine and give prisoners additional motivation “to correct themselves and fulfill their duty to repel armed aggression against Ukraine.”
The bill does not apply to those convicted under articles of premeditated murder, rape, sexual violence, corruption, or for crimes against national security.
From 2022, people under investigation can be mobilized into the Ukrainian army: in this case, the courts will suspend the consideration of their cases. On May 7, NGL.media reported that in 2022-2024, Ukrainian courts suspended the consideration of 10,775 criminal cases due to the sending of their defendants to war. At the same time, cases of corruption, domestic violence and sexual abuse of minors were among those suspended.
In Russia, convicts have been recruited for war from colonies since the summer of 2022. At first, this was done by Wagner PMC and personally by its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Later, the Russian Ministry of Defense began recruiting.
In March, the Russian State Duma allowed to close criminal cases against people who are under investigation or trial, but have entered into a contract with the army.