Putin signs law that punishes military officers who refuse to go to war with up to 15 years in prison

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed this Sunday, September 25, the law that amends the criminal code to toughen punishments for desertion, looting and voluntary surrender of soldiers in times of war, crimes that can be sentenced with up to 15 years in prison. jail.

The rule establishes penalties of between five and 15 years in prison according to the different degrees of desertion and duration, according to the document published on the Administration’s legal information portal.

According to the official TASS agency, article 333 of the Russian criminal code is supplemented by a third part, according to which “absence from the place of duty without permission, desertion with weapons, as well as desertion from a group during mobilization or martial law, in time of war or in the conditions of an armed conflict, shall be punished with a custodial sentence of five years or up to fifteen years”.

Also, according to the amendments, for leaving the place of duty without authorization, failing to report on time without good reason for more than two days (but not more than 10) during the period of mobilization or martial law, the punishment is up to five years in prison.

If the failure to appear in such conditions exceeds 10 days (but not more than one month), the sentence will be up to seven years in prison. If a military member is absent for more than a month, he can be imprisoned for a period of five to 10 years.

In addition, if a soldier evades his duties by feigning illness, self-mutilation, falsifying documents or other deception in the conditions of mobilization, he can be sentenced to between five and 10 years of imprisonment.

The law also states that those who voluntarily surrender to the enemy will face a prison sentence of between 3 and 10 years.

However, a first offense may be exempt from criminal liability as long as the soldier has taken steps for his release, has returned to his unit or duty station, and has not committed any other offenses while in captivity.

Other provisions provide for the introduction of criminal liability for looting during military conflict or wartime, with a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

The regulations supplement the criminal code of the Russian Federation with a new article 356.1 “Looting”. Such an act, without aggravating circumstances, will be punished with up to six years. Looting committed with the use of violence not dangerous to life or health, or with the threat of such an outburst, will be punished with imprisonment for up to 10 years.

According to the new law, looting committed by a group of people by prior agreement, on a large scale, or with the use of violence dangerous to life or health, or with the threat of such excess, will be punished with imprisonment from three to 12 years.

The most severe sentence – eight to 15 years in prison – is provided for looting committed by an organized group, on an especially large scale, as well as combined with threats of murder or serious bodily harm to the victim.

For failure to comply with the order of the commander in wartime and for the refusal of a soldier to participate in hostilities, a sentence of up to three years’ imprisonment is established, and in case of serious consequences – up to 10 years.

Source-larepublica.pe