- Russian Pows in St. Petersburg offered amnesty and money if they join Putin’s war against Ukraine.
- Wagner Group offers 200 thousand rubles ($3,446) and six months of “volunteer” service.
- Prisoners were reportedly promised $85,873 as compensation for their families in the event of death.
Russian Pows in St. Petersburg are being offered freedom and money if they join Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.
According to relatives of inmates serving sentences in the city, the notorious Russian mercenary Wagner Group is promising to pay 200 thousand rubles ($3,446) and an amnesty for six months of “volunteer” service in the Donbas region—if the prisoners return alive.
Convicts serving sentences at St. Petersburg’s IK-7 “Yablonevka” and IK-6 “Obukhovo” prisons were reportedly promised five million rubles ($85,873) as compensation for their families in the event of death.
According to a relative of a felon, prisoners were asked to “defend the Motherland.”
The prisoners were first told that only those who had previously served or fought in battle would be considered. But a few hours later, everybody was considered, and some 40 people signed up.
“All this is only in words, it will not be recorded anywhere on paper. At the same time, all the information is not transmitted directly, but through the foremen [prisoners who help the colony staff manage the units],” said a relative of one of the prisoners.
According to a relative, the detainees were informed that around 20% would return.
The news organisation also met with the families of a prisoner who accepted to be transferred to the Donbas region. The prisoner was apparently lured by the promise that he would be released in six months and that his criminal record would be cleared.
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