Russia tightens penalties for former soldiers who feign illness or desert

The Russian government commission for legislation has passed a bill that significantly increases the penalties for former prisoners who are called up for military service after signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense. Writes TASS.

If these soldiers commit crimes such as leaving their unit without permission, desertion, or refusing military service by feigning illness, they can expect prison sentences of between seven and twelve years under the new law.

Currently, the maximum penalty for this type of crime is five years.

According to Igor Cherepanov of the Russian Bar Association, the draft introduces a new legal framework that makes these acts “particularly serious crimes” due to the special status of the individuals involved—former convicts whose sentences were suspended or revoked in connection with military service.

The draft also provides for more severe penalties if the provisions of the law are violated during mobilization, martial law, war, or under the conditions of armed conflict or military action. In such cases, a minimum prison sentence of seven years is envisaged.

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