Recruitment of convicts affects crime statistics in Southern Russia

The state is conducting no prophylactic work with former convicts who had fought in the special military operation (SMO) zone and were released; while the criminals who have flooded the regions of Southern Russia are committing crimes again, analysts have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in penal colonies convicts were recruited to participate in the SMO by the "Wagner" Private Military Company (PMC), promising them freedom. In September and October 2022, the number of prisoners in Russian penal colonies decreased unprecedentedly – by 23,000 people; this can only be explained by recruitment into the "Wagner" PMC, the "Mediazona"* portal has pointed out.

From January to August this year, a record number of grave and especially grave crimes committed in Russia in 13 years was registered – more than 403,000 crimes, the "Vyorstka"* outlet reports with reference to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

According to the latest changes in the Russia's Criminal Code, all former prisoners who signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) can no longer leave the SMO zone before its completion, unless they are Heroes of Russia or cripples, said Olga Romanova, the director of the charitable fund for helping convicts and their families "Rus Sidyashchaya" (Russia behind Bars).

"If we talk about motivation, that's just money. This is real mercenarism," she believes.

"It is clear that after returning from the SMO zone, these people will have mental problems. The work of psychologists and psychiatrists will be needed," Ms Romanova has added.

Mikhail Doliev, a political analyst, said that the criminals who had signed a contract and had not served their sentences in jails now feel their impunity.

"They'll still be honoured; there'll be respect and honour all around them; they'll be awarded; and women will love him as 'motherland defenders'," Mr Doliev has noted.

Valentin Bogdan, the executive director of the "In Defence of Prisoners' Rights" Fund*, has noted that many SMO fighters "have a broken psyche." In his opinion, the feeling of injustice and indifference to the fate of a former prisoner-war veteran can lead him to crime relapse.

Mr Bogdan has noted that the state has failed to fully resolve the issues of socialization of the people returning from military actions. According to his version, such work is especially necessary with the people who had served their sentences in penal colonies.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.