Courts of the Russian Federation in more than half of the cases mitigate the sentences of those who fought

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, at least 1,130 former combatants have been charged in Russia with crimes related to military service, from traffic violations to murder. In approximately two-thirds of cases, their sentences were commuted as participants in the war, Novaya Gazeta. Evropa found out.

The publication tells about several cases when the participants in the war received significantly lighter sentences than is usually the case in the practice of courts for similar crimes, or were completely released from responsibility. For example, for the brutal beating of his ex-wife, qualified by the court as an intentional infliction of harm to health of medium severity, the former mercenary of PMC “Wagner”, who brought the medal “For the capture of Bakhmut” to the court, received a court fine of five thousand rubles.

For example, more than 80% of military defendants – “ordinary” people receive fines for drunk driving and are sentenced to compulsory labor under this article. 70% of war participants are fined for drug trafficking, while civilian Russians are usually sent to colonies.

According to the authors of the investigation, the norms of the Criminal Code in relation to recidivists do not apply to participants in the war.

In 2023, the number of sentences for war veterans increased sevenfold, and the number of violent crimes against life and health increased 13 times. However, crimes committed by war participants still make up a small percentage of the total number of criminals in Russia.

In March, Russia adopted a law on the possibility of releasing the participants of the so-called special military operation from criminal liability for a large number of crimes, including murder and rape without aggravating circumstances. The same rule applies to those suspected of crimes who signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense, they can avoid punishment. Prisoners in exchange for pardon or release will be recruited to the front starting in 2022.