Ukrainian prisoners are getting a chance for early release if they join the army, writes the BBC. An example of this is Andrey Askerov and Roman Chekh, convicted of illegal drug trafficking and serving their sentences in Correctional Colony No. 4, reports News.bg.
The two have applied to join the armed forces, and under the program they will undergo a month of military training. In exchange, they will receive freedom, but will have to fight "until the end of the war".
The measure aims to provide additional human resources on the front at a time when Ukraine continues to wage heavy fighting against Russian forces. According to the authorities, this is also an opportunity for convicts to atone for their guilt, while human rights organizations express concerns about the conditions and real rights of participants in such programs.
A similar practice was also applied in Russia, where mercenaries from the "Wagner" group were recruited directly from prisons in exchange for a promise of amnesty. The difference is that in Ukraine the process is institutionalized and subordinated to official state mechanisms, while in Russia it was often carried out outside the framework of the law and without public accountability.