According to human rights activists in Russian prisons, volunteers are specifically wanted for Moscow’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russian civil rights activist Olga Romanowa, who lives in Berlin, reported in an interview that suspects and accused were also recruited with the promise that the criminal case would be dropped in return. In any case, there are examples from detention centers around Moscow.
“But I think it started everywhere,” said Romanova, a respected expert on prisoner’s rights in Russia. There is no general mobilization in Russia for the war in Ukraine, which has been going on for almost half a year. That is why the military and President Vladimir Putin depend on volunteers. A sign of a shortage of personnel at the front is that authorities in many regions have started using street advertising to promote a mission in Ukraine. Cities and regions set up their own battalions.
war or prison
Because almost all charges in Russia end in a conviction, suspects and accused are now apparently given a choice: war or prison. The founder of the Gulaga.net project set up to combat violence in Russian prisons, Vladimir Osechkin, confirmed prison recruitment practices during his exile in France. There is also information from St. Petersburg, Ryazan, Tver and Bryansk.
At the beginning of July, according to the Internet portal Meduza, there were already reports in the Russian media about the search for volunteers in numerous prison camps in the vast empire. Accordingly, the private mercenary organization Wagner is said to have recruited criminals there for use in the war.
The Internet portal Mediazona reported that US-wanted businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is believed to be a Wagner financier with the best contacts with ruler Vladimir Putin, is alleged to have recruited volunteers in prison camps himself. In return, they were promised a monthly salary of 100,000 rubles (1,600 euros), bonuses, payments to families in case of death and amnesty.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
