Russian President Putin Signs Law Allowing Criminals To Be Mobilized

18 thousand soldiers have already been recruited from Russia's general male population.

Russian President Putin has signed a law that allows criminals convicted of serious crimes to be mobilized for military service.

The convicted citizens were previously forbidden to serve. However, they now qualify under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The new motion makes it possible to mobilize hundreds of thousands of people who have been sentenced to probation or recently released from prison. Citizens with unexpunged or outstanding convictions such as murder, drug trafficking, robbery, larceny and other serious crimes, can now participate in military activity.

Groups of criminals exempted from the bill are those committed of sex crimes against minors, treason, spying or terrorism. Also excluded are criminals convicted of attempted assassination of a government official, hijacking an aircraft, extremist activity and illegal handling of nuclear materials.

18 thousand soldiers have already been recruited from Russia’s general male population.