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Ukraine approves bill on drafting convicts for military service

279 parliament members had voted in favor of the document

MOSCOW, May 8. /TASS/. The Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) has passed the second reading of a bill allowing the mobilization of convicts, lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said.

"The bill <...> on the mobilization of convicts has passed [its second reading]," he wrote on Telegram.

Zheleznyak added that 279 parliament members had voted in favor of the document.

The Rada passed the first reading of the bill on April 10.

According to the document, all convicts, except those guilty of crimes infringing on national security, murderers, rapists, pedophiles and drivers causing deadly car accidents under the influence of alcohol or drugs, will be subject to mobilization. The bill spells out a procedure where convicts must give their consent to be drafted, and also provides for their medical examination. Unit commanders will also need to give their consent to accept such recruits.

The Ukrainian Justice Ministry has long been calling for recruiting convicts. Justice Minister Denis Malyuska said earlier that a bill on the matter would be passed before the end of spring. He claimed that thousands of convicts were willing to join the Ukrainian army, adding that at least 50,000 people with criminal records could be called up.

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