Russian State Duma allows signing of military contracts with defendants at stage of trial

The State Duma of Russia has approved draft bills which allow defendants to sign contracts for military service before the court proceeding ends and be released from criminal liability after receiving state awards or finishing military service.

Source: the State Duma of Russia

Details: According to the draft law, the defendants will be able to avoid punishment by signing a contract for military service at the stage of a court proceeding. While they are undergoing military service, criminal cases against them can be halted, and measures of restraint can be cancelled.

Quote: "The defendants will be able to receive full exemption from criminal liability after receiving a state award or being dismissed from military service (because of age, a health condition, in connection with the end of the mobilisation period)."

Details: Earlier the Russian legislation did not allow defendants to sign a military contract if their case was being considered in court. Now the law allows them to avoid criminal accountability by going to the combat zone.

Background: 

• The Wall Street Journal reports that the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defence continues to put pressure on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to announce a new wave of mobilisation to bring in additional troops and compensate for the Kremlin's losses on the battlefield in Ukraine.
• Sailors who had served on the Russian Navy's sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, were likely deployed to the war zone in Ukraine.
• Russian catering establishments complain about "catastrophic" deficit of staff aid, demographic crisis and outflow of migrants.

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