The State Duma introduced a package of amendments to the bill 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 amendments introduce a whole set of new articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: “Voluntary Surrender” and “Looting”. The list of aggravating circumstances includes the commission of a crime “during the period of mobilization or martial law, in wartime”. <...> They also came for refuseniks . Non-fulfillment by subordinates of the order of the chief, given in the prescribed manner, during the period of martial law <...> is proposed to be punished with imprisonment for a term of two to three years, ”writes Chikov.
In particular, judging by the amendments, it is proposed to give from 3 to 10 years in prison for voluntary surrender. At the same time, it is noted that a serviceman who has committed a crime for the first time can be exempted from criminal liability “if he took measures for his release, returned to his unit or place of service and did not commit other crimes while in captivity.”
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.
The second reading of the bill is scheduled for today (September 20). As Chikov notes, the State Duma can adopt it simultaneously in the third, final one: “Similar to the package of laws on military censorship, it can be approved by the Federation Council, signed by the president and published before the end of the day.”
On September 15, the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov , called for "self-mobilization" in each individual region. According to him, Russia is a federal state in which the regions "can be the initiators of any undertakings." After that, a number of governors supported his proposal.