The Verkhovna Rada passed a draft law on the mobilization of convicts in the second reading. It allows certain categories of prisoners to join the Armed Forces. It is about minor crimes. 

“Those convicted of serious crimes: premeditated murder, rape, sexual violence, crimes against the foundations of national security will not be mobilized,” said MP Oleksiy Honcharenko.

In his turn, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak added that “the risks of anti-corruption (in particular, those of top corrupt officials), which were emphasized by the Anti-Corruption Committee, have been only partially removed.”

In particular, the following will not be able to mobilize from prison: MPs; some top corrupt officials; and those guilty of serious crimes. This includes, for example, murder and rape.

This draft law allows prisoners convicted of minor crimes to sign a contract with the Armed Forces and receive parole for this. In this case, the unit commander will have to give consent to accept the prisoners.