Soldiers in Russia after sentence reduction for the class, also rapists and murderers

After returning from the war in Ukraine, many Russian soldiers are invited to speak about their experiences at schools and patriotic events for children. They also include convicted, violent sex offenders, according to research by the Russian research platform Holod. In Russia, convicted criminals receive a reduced sentence if they serve in Ukraine and survive, after which they return to Russian society with all the consequences that entails.

Holod writes about the case of Novosibirsk native Nikita Semyanov, who served a nine-year sentence for murder, sexual abuse of minors and assault. Semyanov voluntarily enlisted in the Russian army, fought in Ukraine and returned from the front in February 2024 to appear at various patriotic events for children.

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For example, Semyanov was a jury member at a recitation competition for schoolchildren in Novosibirsk and had to judge the children’s patriotic poems. Shortly afterwards, Semyanov visited a local school and spoke to the children there. The local local branch of the Russian Association of Heroes published the photos of that meeting on social media, sparking a storm of criticism from relatives of Semyanov’s victims.

Widespread practice

Semyanov’s case is not an isolated one, since the Wagner Group introduced the practice of reducing sentences by enlisting at the front, tens of thousands of criminals have flooded back into Russian society. According to The New York Times, the practice of convict recruitment is at the heart of Russia’s military success in Ukraine and has provided an overwhelming manpower advantage.

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The only problem is that prisoners return to society with grace and commit new crimes. Figures on recidivism are difficult to come by due to Russian censorship, but a review of Russian court files by the independent media organization Verstka found that at least 190 criminal cases had been filed against Wagner recruits who had been pardoned in 2023. This included 20 cases of murder or attempted murder, rape, robbery and drug-related crimes.

Legally regulated

That has not stopped the Kremlin from continuing and even formalizing the practice; on March 23, President Vladimir Putin signed a law that further streamlines the practice. While criteria for pardons were previously opaque and pardons were granted by presidential decree, pardons are now regulated by law. For example, convicts who are released from prison to fight can only be given one if their military commanders approve. Only those convicted of terrorism, espionage, treason or sex crimes involving minors are no longer eligible for pardon.

In August 2022, the Wagner Group began recruiting prisoners. Those who signed for six months received a presidential pardon by decree. By his own account, Wagner had recruited more than 50,000 prisoners at any one time. According to the non-governmental organization Russia Behind Bars most of them have died, some are still fighting in Ukraine and around 15,000 have returned home.

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For example, a serial killer from Sakhalin known for his cannibalism was released again, as was a member of a Satanist sect convicted of ritual murders. And so it may be that a convicted sex offender and murderer teaches patriotism to schoolchildren in Novosibrisk. By the way, Holod could not get in touch with this Nikita Semyanov. He told journalists in Novosibirsk that he did not want to comment on the situation and they had better not publish anything about him. The local Association of Heroes confirmed that Semyanov refuses to talk to the press. Local journalists were told by the Association that Semyanov “is an active volunteer in patriotic organizations” and therefore “from a moral point of view everything is in order.”