Ukraine rules out mobilizing convicted traitors into its armed forces
Ukrainian citizens who have been convicted
of treason or crimes committed while in military service will not be subject to
voluntary wartime mobilization, Ukraine’s Justice Minister Denys
Maliuska told Ukrainian TV broadcasters March 5.
According to the minister, the Ukrainian military objects to having its ranks bolstered by people with certain criminal backgrounds.
“We propose to exclude certain categories [of convicts] and are currently discussing with the military whom to exclude,” said Maliuska.
“For example, the military is not very keen on us freeing those who have committed war crimes, for instance, those who have already made trouble while in service… Those who committed crimes against statehood, something akin to traitors, will also be ineligible. However, in other cases, it is entirely possible to work with this contingent, as many of them are patriotically inclined.”
The minister added that a legal mechanism for the mobilization of convicts is being developed and will soon be submitted to the Ukrainian parliament.
“The new mechanism will involve us handing over individuals from [correctional facilities] to the mobilization centers, and from there, people will be transferred further,” Maliuska continues.
In conclusion, the minister said that the program, if approved by the parliament, could provide “thousands” of new recruits for Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
