Russia's anti-war and opposition movements, as well as emigrant anti-war communities, have published an urgent appeal to the Russian military calling on soldiers to surrender. The letter was published on the website of the Vesna movement.
“We call on the Russian military in units and at the front to refuse to participate in the “special operation” or to surrender as soon as possible. Most likely, this is your last chance – and you need to use it in the next day.
The authors of the appeal note that the State Duma urgently adopted a law amending the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. It introduces criminal liability for the military for voluntary surrender, unauthorized abandonment of the unit and failure to comply with orders.
The appeal was also signed by the Mayak movement, Media Partisans, Anti-war sick leave, DISSIDENT, Russian America for Democracy in Russia, Media resistance group, Free Russia Nederland, Emigration for action, Feminist anti-war resistance, Wake up movement, "Eighth Initiative Group", "Green Ribbon", "Omsk Civil Association", Anti-propaganda,.
On September 20, the State Duma introduced a package of amendments to the draft law on amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, adopted in the first reading in July. As human rights activist Pavel Chikov draws attention , the State Duma introduces the concepts of “mobilization”, “martial law” and “wartime” into the criminal code. The bill was passed immediately in the second and third readings.
Judging by the amendments, it is proposed to give from 3 to 10 years in prison for voluntary surrender. It also follows from the amendments that Russians called up for military training who are in reserve will be criminally liable for failure to appear or desertion on an equal basis with contract soldiers and conscripts.
Human rights activist Alexei Tabalov, in a conversation with The Insider, commented on the innovations in the Criminal Code:
“It is alarming that a new composition is being introduced for refusing to participate in hostilities, which is aimed at enslaving military personnel at the front. If so far the servicemen have not suffered any consequences for refusing, then the introduction of this amendment indicates that the Ministry of Defense is nervous about the flow, because this is a mass phenomenon that causes problems with the recruitment of the armed forces. Those who wanted to refuse have one last chance to refuse without consequences, and after the adoption of these amendments, there will be no choice.”