(Kyiv) Ukrainian MPs adopted a bill on Wednesday allowing certain categories of prisoners to fight on the front in exchange for an amnesty, at a time when Kyiv is seeking to mobilize more soldiers against Russia.
On Facebook, MP Olena Chouliak, from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party, indicated that the text had been adopted by 279 votes “for” in the second reading. It must now be submitted to the President of Parliament, then to Mr. Zelensky.
Mme Chouliak specified that this measure will only concern voluntary detainees and will require the agreement of the military authorities after examining the physical and mental health of the prisoner.
It will not apply to detainees convicted of certain serious crimes, in particular for “intentional homicide of more than two people”, sexual violence, attacks on national security or “serious” convictions for corruption, detailed Olena Chouliak.
People convicted while holding important political functions will therefore not be eligible for this measure.
According to M.me Chouliak, these detainees will serve in special army units.
Finally, according to her, only prisoners with less than three years of imprisonment to serve will be able to make such a request.
“We can only survive in the conditions of total war against an enemy with more resources by consolidating all our forces,” said Olena Chouliak.
After more than two years of resistance against a very deadly Russian invasion, Ukraine faces a lack of soldiers and weapons, facing a larger Russian army.
Moscow has already recruited tens of thousands of prisoners from its penal colonies to fight on the front.