UN expert: Prisoners sent by Russia to fight in Ukraine commit crimes upon return

GENEVA — A United Nations-backed human rights expert monitoring the situation in Russia under President Vladimir Putin on Monday denounced the increasing violence in the country, saying it is being caused by former prisoners who have had their sentences reduced or are pardoned to fight in Ukraine and then return home to commit crimes such as rape and murder.

Mariana Katzarova, who monitors human rights in Russia for the United Nations-backed Human Rights Council, said the return to Russia of former criminals whose pasts go unpunished is contributing to more domestic violence.

The phenomenon first appeared last year among returning fighters, but Katzarova pointed out that since March Russia has been offering pardons and reduced prison sentences to prisoners who agree to fight in Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters, Katzarova said an estimated 170,000 convicted violent criminals had been recruited to fight in Ukraine.

“Many of those who return – and this is an emerging trend – have initially committed new violent crimes against women, girls and children, including sexual violence and murder,” she said in Geneva, where the Council is holding its autumn session.

“Violence against women in Russia has increased. It is already very high, every year thousands of women die as a result of domestic violence,” she said. “In Russia there is no law that explicitly criminalizes domestic violence or gender-based violence.”

Russia's war in Ukraine has been going on for three years, and the Kremlin has made major efforts to build up its troops there. In 2022, authorities mobilized around 300,000 troops as part of a partial call, and human rights groups and media also reported an attempt to recruit prisoners held in prisons across the country. Initially, the recruitment was carried out by the Wagner mercenary group, but then the Russian Defense Ministry took control, according to activists and media reports.

In March, the Russian parliament passed a law allowing authorities to release convicted criminals from prison if they join the army and sign a contract with the Defense Ministry.