Russian President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the Criminal Code on Saturday that provide up to 10 years in prison for military personnel who surrender or refuse to fight during a period of mobilization.
The amendments, which had been voted on in Parliament this week, were published on the government website and therefore come into force.
The amendments provide sentences of up to 10 years in prison for soldiers who desert, surrender “without authorization”, refuse to fight or disobey orders during a period of mobilization.
Acts of looting are also punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The legislative changes come as Russia this week announced a partial deployment of reservists to fight in Ukraine, where Russian forces have suffered setbacks in recent weeks.
The mobilization order, which authorities say covers 300,000 people, has sparked unrest, prompting many Russians to flee the country.
According to the Kremlin, Putin today also signed a law that facilitates access to Russian nationality for foreigners who enlist for at least one year in the army, at a time when Moscow is trying by all means to recruit more men to fight in Ukraine.
With this measure, foreigners seeking citizenship do not have to submit the normally required proof of five years of residence on Russian territory.
The law appears to be aimed primarily at immigrants from the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, who have the most difficult jobs in big cities like Moscow.
Even before Putin signed the law, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan this week appealed to their citizens not to get involved in any conflict.
Source: TSF
