The gist The Russian president has changed Russian legislation to allow men convicted of serious crimes to join the army.
Russian prisoners in the ranks of the army? According to revelations by the American medium CNN, Vladimir Putin is said to have changed a law that makes it possible to recruit new soldiers from the penal colonies. And not just any… At the request of the reservists, Russian legislation would allow men convicted of serious crimes who are no longer imprisoned to report.
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Murderers and drug dealers can join the army
It affects people convicted of theft, murder, drug trafficking or other serious crimes under Russian law. On the other hand, detainees who have committed sexual offenses against minors or who are imprisoned for high treason, espionage or terrorism are not eligible.
This relaxation of the law, the daily La Libre Belgique explains, would make it possible to circumvent Russian law, which forbids converting prison sentences into mercenary service.
According to the Interfax agency, the Kremlin chief said on Friday that 318,000 men had been recruited so far.