Russian recruitment offices to "detect" Russians who want to fight against Ukraine – BBC

Russian recruitment offices were tasked with detecting those willing to enlist as volunteer soldiers for the war against Ukraine via "personal conversations".

Source: Russian BBC service with reference to the Russian Defence Ministry’s decree package published on the portal of normative acts drafts

Details: The Russian Defence Ministry prepared draft orders about volunteers participating in the war against Ukraine. BBC, with reference to these documents, reports that Russian recruitment offices will have to call Russians who served in the army and "detect" those willing to participate in the war against Ukraine as volunteers. Unlike members of the military, they will have the option of voluntary dismissal, yet they will have to pay for it. Human rights activists assume that this order may be connected with an attempt of the legalisation of the Wagner Group.

It is stated in the documents that "detecting citizens who expressed their desire to sign a contract" will be carried out via private conversations between military commissars of municipal institutions with citizens when the latter are called up.

Herewith, local authorities, employers and even centres of psychological help will have to promote "signing the contract" for Russians.

After orders come into force, Russians may start receiving subpoenas obliging them to come for a private conversation from recruitment offices again.

However, unlike in the Wagner Group, convicts, suspects, defendants, persons sentenced to criminal punishment under any convictions, and persons subject to administrative punishment on drug related charges will be prohibited from enlisting in volunteer formations.

Moreover, this ban also concerns persons with unexpunged conviction for committing crimes against sexual integrity of a minor and a number of crimes under "extremist" and "terrorist" articles. Conscripts who have not served in the army are also forbidden to become volunteers.

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