Russian Federation Council members Andrey Klichas and Olga Kovitidi have drafted a bill that would allow people convicted of crimes to take part in combat operations, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Under the bill, convicted soldiers and civilians could potentially earn pardons or sentence reductions for “bravery and heroism” on the battlefield, Kovitidi wrote on Telegram. She said the bill would only apply to convicts who committed crimes of “low and medium severity.” People convicted for protesting, “discrediting” or spreading “disinformation” about the Russian army, using Nazi symbolism, or calling for sanctions against Russia would not be eligible.
“The law is relevant, as it serves the interests of the country’s security as well as the principles of humanizing criminal legislation,” an explanatory note to the bill reads.
According to Kovitidi, the bill is in the last stage of development and will be sent to Putin for approval after it’s finalized.
Thinking inside the box
Increasingly desperate for manpower in recent months, Russian authorities have started tapping a “resource” the country has plenty of: prisoners. If you think that sounds like it would have obvious drawbacks, you’re right.
