Proposed 10 Times Minimum Wage Salary for Pardon
However, Continues Serving Sentence Without Trial
As the war in Ukraine drags on, Russia, struggling with a shortage of troops, is reportedly attempting to deploy female prisoners following male prisoners.
Russian female soldier. The image is not directly related to the content of the article. [Image source=TASS Yonhap News]
On the 10th (local time), the US daily The New York Times (NYT) reported that two former inmates revealed that Russia released a group of female prisoners from a prison at the end of last month to send them to fight in the Ukraine war. They said military recruiters toured prisons on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg to recruit female inmates. However, foreign media added that it is not clear whether this recruitment is an isolated case, a pilot program, or part of a large-scale plan.
It is reported that since last fall, Russian authorities have also started recruiting female inmates. Recruiters in military uniforms visited women's prisons and offered female prisoners enlistment. They promised a pardon and $2,000 (about 2.75 million won) per month for serving one year on the front lines. This amount is about ten times the Russian minimum wage. However, about 40 female inmates who volunteered to enlist have reportedly not received any explanation and are still serving their sentences in prison, according to former inmates.
Moreover, it is not clear what roles the female inmates will be assigned after enlistment. Recruiters proposed sniper, medic, and radio operator duties to the female prisoners, which marks a significant departure from the auxiliary roles Russian female soldiers have traditionally held.
Witnesses recalled that despite the recruiters’ explanations sounding dangerous, fellow inmates decided to enlist. They speculated that the harsh conditions in Russian prisons influenced some female inmates' decisions to enlist. Prisoners said they must always remain silent and perform forced labor for 12 hours a day in a sawmill workshop inside the prison, even in subzero winter temperatures.
Before recruiting female inmates, Russia had already been recruiting male prisoners as mercenaries and deploying them to the front lines. Prisoners signed six-month contracts and joined mercenary groups supported by the Russian Ministry of Defense, some of whom were violent criminals serving sentences for horrific murders. As a result, there have been multiple cases where violent criminals pardoned after service committed serious crimes such as murder again after returning to society.
Ukraine, continuing its war with Russia, is also struggling with manpower shortages and is attempting to mobilize prisoners to the battlefield. Ukraine recently introduced a conditional parole system for military service, and about 3,000 prisoners have reportedly volunteered for military service.
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