According to British intelligence, the Russian authorities are probably preparing an extension of military service to strengthen the armed forces. From 2024, men between the ages of 21 and 30 must be called up – instead of men between the ages of 18 and 27 as before. Meanwhile, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has signed into law tightening the controversial law that penalizes “defamation” or “disparagement” of war volunteers.
According to intelligence agencies, many 18- to 27-year-olds request military service exemptions by citing a college degree. The authorities have now probably changed the age range to increase the force. The law is planned to come into force in January 2024. Moscow accuses London of a disinformation campaign.
Since Soviet times, Russia has been calling up conscripts twice a year. “Officially, Russia continues to exclude conscripts from operations in Ukraine, although at least hundreds may have been deployed – through confusion by the authorities or after they were forced to sign contracts,” the British Ministry of Defense said.
Putin Enforces Controversial Fake Law on ‘Volunteers’
Kremlin chief Putin has signed into law tightening the controversial law that penalizes “defamation” or “disparagement” of war volunteers. This means that not only criticism of the regular army, but also of ‘volunteers’ who fight in the neighboring country, is severely punished. The law “On the introduction of amendments to the Penal Code” was published on Saturday on the official law portal of the Russian government.
15 years in prison
A conviction under the new law carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years. The tightening of the law is mainly due to a demand from the head of the notorious Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin. He had recruited rows of serious criminals for the war against Ukraine. The 61-year-old asked politicians to protect the mercenaries – who are officially considered volunteers – from libel.
In recent months, the Russian leadership has curtailed freedom of expression at home in connection with the war of aggression against Ukraine. A number of opponents of the war have been sentenced to several years in prison in recent months for allegedly discrediting the Russian military or spreading false information. Internationally, many are considered political prisoners.
Source: Krone
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