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After Recruiting Gang Leaders, Russia Now Expands Army Eligibility for More Criminal Offenders
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Russian leader Vladimir Putin has signed a law reducing the number of criminal offenses that prevent individuals from signing military service contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, according to the Russian outlet ASTRA.
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The legislation revises the list of convictions and ongoing criminal cases that previously barred recruitment during the period of mobilization.
Under the new law, restrictions have been lifted for a range of minor and medium-gravity offenses, as well as certain crimes involving the illegal circulation of weapons and explosives, violations of safety regulations, and some military- and transport-related offenses.
Individuals convicted of or under criminal investigation for serious offenses remain ineligible to sign contracts with the Russian military. Those offenses include terrorism, treason, espionage, sabotage, extremism, child sexual abuse, extortion, and other crimes against the state and public security.
The outlet noted that last month Russian authorities authorized leaders of organized criminal groups, gang members, and drug traffickers to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry. According to reports, they are expected to serve in specially created military units.
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The legislative changes come as Russia faces mounting recruitment challenges. Russian authorities are increasingly relying on police raids, coercion, and threats of fabricated criminal charges to pressure men into signing military contracts as voluntary enlistment for the war against Ukraine declines, The Wall Street Journal reported on August 3.
According to the newspaper, military recruiters working alongside police have detained men of fighting age during street patrols, near their workplaces, or under the pretext of routine document checks in multiple Russian regions. Those detained were reportedly taken to military recruitment centers, where some were allegedly beaten or threatened with fabricated criminal charges until they agreed to enlist.
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