• Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that makes it possible for criminals to be conscripted into the military.
• Convicted of serious crimes such as murder, robbery, theft, drug trafficking, and other similar acts are subject to mandatory military service.
• The only category of criminals excluded are those who committed treason, spying, or acts of terrorism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, signed a law that makes it possible for the country’s residents to be conscripted into the military even if they have un-expunged or ongoing convictions for a variety of serious offences.

According to the law, Russian citizens who have been convicted of serious crimes under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, such as murder, robbery, theft, drug trafficking, and other similar acts, are subject to mandatory military service.

This makes it possible to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people who have been sentenced to probation or who have just just been freed from colonies and who were previously barred from serving in the military.

The only category of criminals who are excluded from the order are those who committed treason, spying, or acts of terrorism in addition to sexual offences against minors. Those who have been found guilty of attempting to murder a government official, hijacking an aero plane, engaging in extremist activity, or illegally handling nuclear materials or radioactive substances are also not eligible for citizenship.

Putin announced on Friday that the Kremlin had already recruited an additional 18,000 soldiers from the general male population of Russia to participate in its war in Ukraine. This number is in addition to the goal of 300,000 soldiers that the Kremlin had set for itself.

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