Putin allows defendants to avoid trial if they enlist in the military

In addition, Putin has signed legislation allowing defendants in criminal cases to avoid prosecution if they join the military.

The measures, versions of which were published on a government website on Wednesday, come as Russia’s need for military manpower remains high in the more than two-and-a-half-year conflict in Ukraine.

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The measures amend a section of Russia’s criminal code that says convicts can be released if they enlist in the military, and suspects whose cases are being investigated but not yet tried in court can be entitled to a stay of their cases . The new measures extend the stay offer to those whose cases are in the trial phase.

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The legislation also allows for the complete annulment of convictions or proceedings if the defendant is released for reasons of age or health or with the end of martial law. Russia declared martial law in October 2022, about six months after sending troops to Ukraine.

The intense and protracted fighting has strained Russian resources. In September, Putin called on the military to increase its troop strength by 180,000 troops, and this week’s government budget proposal allocated 32.5% of spending to the military, a record high.