Bill on exemption from criminal liability for participants of Ukraine war introduced to Russia’s State Duma

A bill has been introduced to Russia’s lower house of Parliament, the State Duma, stipulating that draftees and volunteers who had previously committed crimes of small and medium gravity will be exempted from criminal liability after being discharged from service or presented with a state award.

The draft law “On particulars of criminal liability for individuals participating in the special military operation” was submitted by senator Andrey Klishas together with the United Russia party deputies Pavel Krashennikov and Irina Pankina.

It is proposed to exempt those who signed a contract with Russia’s Defence Ministry or were drafted under mobilisation, even if they committed a crime before the law came into force. The people in question are volunteer soldiers from penal colonies and people with criminal cases opened against them who went to fight in the war instead of serving their sentences.

The criminal prosecution will be stopped and the criminal record will be wiped clean after the soldier is discharged from service or receives a state award. Commanders of military units will be tasked with controlling the behaviour of these servicemen.

On 31 May, a bill allowing convicts to sign military service contracts during mobilisation, martial law, and war time was submitted to the State Duma.