Ukraine Adopts Law Regarding Mobilization of Prisoners to Fight at the Front. Which Inmates Are Excluded

The draft law allowing the mobilization of convicts in the Armed Forces of Ukraine was adopted by 279 deputies, announced Yaroslav Zelezniak, the people’s deputy from the “Golos” parliamentary faction.

“I am a co-sponsor of this bill. And I defended the position that those imprisoned for less serious crimes should be given the right to defend their homeland. You have to give convicts opportunities to fight, if they want,” said Ukrainian deputy Alexei Gonciarenko.

In order to be mobilized, the convicts will have to give their consent and undergo a medical check, and the commanders of the Ukrainian armed units will have to agree to accept such recruits.

Criminals, rapists or pedophiles cannot be mobilized

Mobilized convicts will be accepted into the army under certain conditions. Those who committed crimes against national security, criminals, rapists, pedophiles and those who committed fatal accidents under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs will not be mobilized.

Also, persons convicted of illegal production, purchase, distribution or possession of drugs will not be able to be admitted to the Ukrainian army.

On April 10, the Supreme Rada of Ukraine adopted in the first reading the draft law on the mobilization of convicts.

Similar strategy applied in Russia

A similar strategy has been applied in Russia since the fall of 2022, where both criminals and rapists were released. In total, 15,000 pardoned prisoners have returned to Russian society after fighting in criminal military units with the Wagner Group and Storm Z, said Olga Romanova, head of the Russia Behind Bars organization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law in November 2022 for the mobilization into military service of citizens paroled from prisons, but who have convictions for serious crimes, such as murder, robbery or theft.

The law applies to prisoners who have been paroled from prisons or correctional facilities. Usually, these people remain under the supervision of the authorities for eight to ten years. They are not allowed to leave their residence and must follow certain restrictions.

Exempted from mobilization are those who have committed sexual crimes against minors, treason, espionage or terrorism, those convicted of attempted assassination of a government official, hijacking an aircraft, extremist activities and illegal handling of nuclear materials and radioactive substances.

Meanwhile, the Russians face problems with prisoners sent to the front. Those who survived returned to the country after six months and were pardoned, but continued to commit crimes.

Currently, the Russians have changed the law, and prisoners who reach the front are forced to fight until the end of the war. In Russia, not only men from prisons are sent to the front, but also women.

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