This week, the State Duma “Parliament” approved the amendments to the Penal Code, and they were issued in the Official Gazette of the Government and entered into force..
The amendments include prison terms of up to 10 years for “soldiers who flee or surrender to the enemy without permission, refuse to fight or disobey orders in the mobilization phase.”.
Whoever engages in looting is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, according to Agence France-Presse.
These legislative amendments come after Russia decided this week to partially mobilize reserve elements with the aim of fighting in Ukraine, where Moscow’s forces suffered defeats in recent weeks..
The decision to mobilize, which, according to the authorities, includes 300,000 people, raised the concern of a large number of Russians, some of whom chose to leave the country.
Granting Russian citizenship to foreign fighters
At a time when Moscow is seeking by all means to recruit more elements to fight in Ukraine, Putin also signed, on Saturday, a law facilitating the granting of Russian citizenship to foreigners who fight in the ranks of the army..
This law, which was also issued in the Official Gazette, stipulated that foreigners who join the army for a period of not less than a year, can apply for citizenship, without having to prove their residence on Russian soil for five years..
It seems that this measure is directed especially to immigrants from the former Soviet republics in Central Asia, who in large cities, such as Moscow, practice very difficult occupations..
Before Putin signed the law, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan this week called on their citizens “not to take part in any conflict.”.
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