The Russian parliament has passed a controversial new law allowing individuals facing criminal prosecution to avoid trial and potential imprisonment by enlisting to fight in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Under the new law, defendants can appeal to the courts to have their charges dropped in exchange for signing a contract to join the Russian armed forces. This option is expected to attract roughly 100 recruits from each of Russia’s pre-trial detention centers, potentially boosting the military by an estimated 20,000 soldiers. Ultimately, the decision to dismiss charges rests with individual judges, and theoretically, no crimes are excluded from this arrangement.
Andrey Kartapolov, the deputy who spearheaded the bill in the State Duma, described the law as an opportunity for individuals to “repay their debts to society” through military service. Historically, Russia has used similar tactics, including recruiting prisoners during World War II and more recently through the Wagner Group to fight in Ukraine.
However, the law has sparked widespread criticism. Ekaterina Schulmann, a political analyst at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre in Berlin, called the move “a daring legal experiment on society.” She cautioned that encouraging accused criminals to fight in exchange for freedom undermines justice and the rule of law, stating, “No society can function properly while encouraging crime at this level.”
Despite the backlash, some pro-Kremlin voices have defended the new law. Blogger Kirill Fyodorov argued on Telegram, “The front line is no picnic. Are you willing for your son, brother, or husband to stand in for them while storming minefields?”
The law comes as Russia faces difficulty in recruiting volunteers for a war that has entered its third year, with staggering casualties on both sides. Estimates suggest that Russia has suffered between 400,000 and 700,000 killed or wounded, while Ukrainian losses are estimated between 200,000 and 500,000.
