New laws signed by Putin: 10-year jail term for fugitives

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed into law amendments that would make soldiers who refuse to fight during mobilization face up to 10 years in prison.

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According to the Kremlin, Mr. Putin also signed a law on Saturday that would allow foreigners who join the military for at least a year to acquire Russian citizenship. Men to fight in Ukraine.

These amendments to the Penal Code, which were voted in Parliament this week, were published on the government’s legal portal and thus came into effect.

Specifically, they provide up to 10 years in prison for soldiers who surrender to the enemy “without authority,” refuse to fight, or disobey orders during mobilization.

Extortion is also punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The legislative changes come as Russia this week ordered a partial mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine, where Moscow’s forces have suffered setbacks in recent weeks.

The mobilization order, which officials say covers 300,000 people, has sparked concern among many Russians, some of whom have chosen to leave the country.

Mr. Putin on Saturday signed a law allowing foreigners who join the army to acquire Russian nationality as Moscow makes every effort to recruit more men to go to the front in Ukraine.

According to the law, which was also published on the government’s legal portal, foreigners who have served in the army for at least one year can apply for citizenship without justifying the five years of residence on Russian territory that is normally required. .

The measure was mainly aimed at immigrants from the Soviet republics of Central Asia, who occupied the most difficult jobs in large cities such as Moscow.

The mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, announced on Tuesday that a recruitment office would soon open in the sprawling administrative center of Sakharov, a mandatory passage for migrants.

Before Mr Putin signed the law, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan this week called on their nationals not to get involved in the conflict.