MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed measures allowing suspects in criminal cases to avoid prosecution if they join the military.
The measures, versions of which appeared on a government website on Wednesday, stem from Russia’s need for military manpower remains high in the more than 2.5 years of conflict in Ukraine.
The measures amend a section of Russia’s criminal code that states that convicts can be released if they enlist in the military, and that suspects whose cases are under investigation but have not yet gone to trial may be eligible for suspension of their case. The new measures extend the suspension offer to those whose cases are in the trial phase.
The legislation also allows punishments or proceedings to be canceled entirely if the soldier is discharged due to age or health reasons or if martial law has ended. Russia declared martial law in October 2022, about six months after sending troops to Ukraine.
The intense and prolonged fighting has strained Russian resources. Putin called on the army in September to increase its troop strength by 180,000 troops and the government’s draft budget this week earmarked a record 32.5% of its spending for the military.
