Great investigation by BBC Russian Liza Fokht & co. The Kremlin has refined its prisoner recruitment in ways that demonstrate great sensitivity to Putin’s reputation and regular troop morale. No more presidential pardons and no more short-term service.
The new policy, which forces inmates to sign up as contract soldiers (not volunteers), means they’re locked into service for the war’s duration (one of the legal quirks of Putin’s mobilization order, and why he doesn’t rescind it). Also, the prisons and military handle this now w/o courts and, most importantly, without all those tedious, very embarrassing presidential pardons. Now, fewer inmates will ever return home, and the issue itself will fade from many Russians’ daily concerns. A devious, intelligent play by the Kremlin and Defense Ministry.
