More than 100 Russian ex-officials and lawmakers joined the war from jail to escape punishment — BBC News Russian

Since the start of the full-scale war, more than 100 former regional and municipal officials, lawmakers, and law enforcement officers in Russia have been sent to the front from pre-trial detention centers and prisons, avoiding criminal prosecution in the process, according to calculations by the BBC News Russian.

Twenty-two were mayors or municipal leaders, 10 were regional or municipal lawmakers, and seven were deputy governors or regional ministers. The group also included 25 law enforcement officers and two judges. However, BBC New Russian notes that no high-ranking federal officials are among those sent to the front.

Most of those who went to war to escape prosecution — 79 individuals — had been charged with corruption. Another 16 faced accusations of violent crimes, while eight were charged with other offenses.

Of those sent to the front, 23 have since returned, making them legally exempt from prosecution under Russian law. Seventeen have been killed or are missing, while 61 remain on the battlefield or their status is unknown, according to BBC New Russian’s findings.

Still, not everyone is able to avoid prosecution by going to war. Lawyers said there is an unofficial ban on federal-level former officials, who are often denied such requests. “They know too much and could return as heroes, seeking revenge against those who jailed them and carried out many other bad things — the executioners fear their victims,” one lawyer told BBC News Russian.