An effort to boost discipline
For some reason Russian soldiers aren’t all that keen on Putin’s war.
Russia’s Kremlin-controlled lower house of parliament on Tuesday approved legislation that toughens punishment for soldiers breaching their duties, in an apparent effort to boost discipline in the ranks amid the fighting in Ukraine.
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Under the new legislation, deserting a military unit during a period of mobilization or martial law would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison, compared with five years under the current law.
Those who voluntarily surrender to the enemy will also face a prison term of up to 10 years, and those convicted of looting could be handed a 15-year term.
Another amendment introduces a prison sentence of up to 10 years for those who refuse to go to combat or follow an officer’s order.
Sounds like a morale problem. I wonder why that might be.
And if those who voluntarily surrender choose to remain in Ukraine?
“The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves”
Tigger, you beat me to it.
Holms, I hope your morale is improving, then!
In that case they better hope that Ukraine surrenders, because they are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. On the one hand they will face war crimes trials for their treatment of Ukraine prisoners both civilian and combatants. On the other hand they face prison (and probable torture and beatings) for either deserting or being captured.
Solzhenitzyn was imprisoned in the gulag for not being killed and instead being captured and held by the Nazis in a POW camp. Seeing the penalty for being captured makes me think that authoritarianism never dies in Russia, no matter whether they are Imperialist, Communist, or Capitalist.
This was the inspiration behind at least two songs, Al Stewart’s “Roads to Moscow” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOx1qNUMnCc
and “Red Army Blues” by The Waterboys.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncgb8qBbD1U
Both are very good.