Ukrainian President Zelensky recently signed a convict mobilization bill into law that allows incarcerated individuals to enlist in the army for parole. In addition to domestic convicts, the newly signed law also opens the door for foreigners and stateless people to join the Ukrainian army under the sixth part of Article 1.
However, the bill is not without its restrictions. Notably, it includes several exclusionary provisions that prohibit prisoners convicted for serious crimes such as rape and multi-person or gruesome murder, from enlisting. As detailed here, convicts, despite their status, must still meet regular requirements for military service, including a preliminary medical test prior to parole application submission.
In an effort to address potential misuse, the bill was also amended to specifically exclude service options for Ukrainian officials convicted of corruption. This alteration is believed to be aimed at preventing such officials from using military service as a means to skirt prison sentences, a concern previously raised by the Ukrainian NGO Corruption Action Centre, as detailed here.
The bill, unfortunately, is not without controversy. A provision allowing for demobilization was removed, leaving the service end date for convicts ambiguously defined. This lack of clarity has left the Protection for Prisoners organisation cautious in its acceptance of the new law, with ongoing debate over whether military-based parole should extend for the duration of a war.
The new legislation also updates punishments for convicts who agree to enlist but subsequently evade service. Such individuals could face additional imprisonment ranging from five to ten years, as set out in the amendment to Criminal Code Article 336.
Overall, the law brings about both opportunities and challenges, and the full impact remains to be seen as it gets implemented.