Russian prisons unusually empty as inmates go to war against Ukraine

During the months of September-October, a record-breaking 23,000 inmates of Russian penitentiaries were drafted to serve in the war in Ukraine against the backdrop of recruitment conducted by the Wagner Group [a Russian private military company].

Source: Russian independent online media outlet Mediazona, citing data from the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia

Details: The outlet estimated that there have not been such leaps [in the number of inmates released - ed.] since 2010. Even the most massive amnesty in the last few years resulted in fewer Russians being freed in such a short period of time.

According to reports by the Federal Penitentiary Service examined by Mediazona, since the beginning of August, at least 349,000 inmates have been held in penitentiaries.

The decrease in the number of inmates is taking place against the backdrop of recruitment of convicts by the Wagner Group, founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin [a Russian oligarch and close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin], who will then be deployed in Ukraine. Prigozhin promises the inmates freedom in exchange for their participation in the war against Ukraine.

Reportedly, the number 23,000 more or less coincides with the estimate made by Olga Romanova, founder of the non-governmental organisation Rus Sidyashchaya (Rus behind Bars). According to her calculations, as of the end of October, the number of inmates recruited by the Wagner Group exceeded 20,000 people and had reached 30,000 by the middle of November.

Background: The first reports about the recruitment of inmates by the Wagner Group appeared in July. This process became public by September, and videos of Prigozhin personally addressing inmates in penitentiaries started appearing on Telegram. He was promising inmates that they would be pardoned after half a year of combat action.

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