Vladimir Putin has been forced to defend himself after the Kremlin announced a high-profile murderer had been pardoned – despite his 17-year prison sentence.
Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov addressed the press to outline why Vladislav Kanyus, a man sentenced for the brutal murder of his 23-year-old girlfriend, had been released to join the war effort.
Kanyus was sentenced to 17 years in jail in July for the brutal killing Vera Pekhteleva in Kemerovo, Siberia, with 111 stab wounds after torturing and raping her for hours.
Peskov defended the Russian leader’s decision, explaining the high-profile murderer would “atone with blood for crimes on the battlefield, in assault brigades, under bullets, under shells.”
He added: “There is a certain procedure for pardon.
“It is an admission of guilt, a decision at the level of the FSIN, then at the level of the region, then at the level of the federal district, then the central commission, then the documents are submitted to the president.
“This is one way. There is a second way – when they redeem with blood, including on serious articles.
Pekhteleva’s mother discovered in June that her daughter’s killer had been deployed to fight in Ukraine.
And human rights activist Alena Popova last week confirmed Kanyus had received a pardon in exchange for serving at the front with other Russian troops.
According to intelligence reports on the state of the Russian Army, the Kremlin has been recruiting among prisoners for months due to heavy losses in Ukraine.
Russian investigative site Agentstvo discovered at least 17 high-profile murderers and rapists had been issued pardons from the Russian president between 2022 and 2023.
The investigating team reviewing the prisoners’ status said they had all been engaged in combat in Ukraine – and some re-offended upon their return to Russia.
Former Wagner Group fighters have also reportedly been wreaking havoc around Russia since they were absorbed into the regular Russian Army following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Prigozhin also extensively recruited among the prison population, with criminals being offered commuted sentences and cash in exchange for military service in Ukraine.
And in addition to his country’s the prison population, Putin has also forced POWs to fight their own country on the frontlines.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said Tuesday the soldiers swore allegiance to Russia when they joined the battalion, which entered service last month.
Video from RIA Novosti showed the Ukrainians swearing allegiance to Russia, holding rifles and dressed in military fatigues.
By mobilising Ukrainian POWs, deploying Russian convicts and conscripting Ukrainians who live in occupied regions, Russia is increasing its combat force “without having to risk the social implications of conducting a general mobilization,” Institute for the Study of War’s Karolina Hird said.
