Criminal case defendants recruited in Russia and occupied territories for war in Ukraine – Russian media

The representatives of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and other "law enforcement bodies" in occupied territories of Ukraine and Russian oblasts located close to them have started to recruit people involved in criminal investigations into the war against Ukraine. Source: Russia media outlet Kommersant with reference to sources in the legal system Details: Reportedly, during and after investigative actions, persons of interest are handed documents describing the prospects of military service instead of a prison sentence.

Contracts with conscripts are signed by the military on the investigators' recommendation.

The document handed to persons of interest by the head of an investigative body of the Investigative Committee of Russia or by their deputy is called "Raziasnenie" (Explanation). It contains identification data of the person subject to criminal prosecution and separate provisions of the Criminal Code of Russia which allow them to avoid criminal responsibility by being drafted into the military during the mobilisation period or signing a contract with the Armed Forces of Russia. This does not apply to paedophiles, terrorists, diversionists, traitors, manufacturers of weapons of mass destruction, mercenaries etc.

As for the rest of convicts, given permission from the prosecutor, the investigation can be suspended and then discarded if that is requested by the command of the military unit in which the suspect is going to serve. In order to completely discard the criminal case the suspect must seek dismissal from the armed forces, specifically due to a health condition, or to receive a state award, the Explanation says. "However, as a rule, individuals who have been severely injured or rewarded [by the state for outstanding performance - ed.] are not demobilised, but transferred from the 'convict' units to ordinary units," Kommersant says.

After the Explanation is handed to the suspect, the suspect must sign it specifying if they want to sign a military contract. The paper is then sent to the military, and if the suspect meets their demands, the commander of the military unit requests the investigation to suspend the case. This procedure is used in Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine and in the oblasts in close proximity to them.

It is gradually spreading to other regions.

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