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Russia ends sign-on bonuses for prisoners joining the army

Source: Meduza

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed a decree barring prisoners who sign contracts with Russia’s Defense Ministry from receiving sign-on bonuses.

The document states, “One-time monetary payments [...] shall not be made to citizens of the Russian Federation who, as of the date of signing a contract for military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, were serving a sentence of imprisonment.”

The decree is set to take effect on January 1, 2025.

In November 2022, President Vladimir Putin approved one-time payments for those enlisting with the Defense Ministry during the war. The payment amount was increased in July 2024 to 400,000 rubles ($3,500).

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