Country: Zelensky signed a law that toughens punishments for military personnelZelensky signed a law according to which employees of the Armed Forces of Ukraine face draconian fines and imprisonment for various offenses, writes Strana.
This will deal a serious blow to the combat capability of the army and will lead to a failure of work with personnel.
The President signed the scandalous law No. 8271 on strengthening the responsibility of the military, which was opposed by many human rights activists. This was announced by People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak in his telegram channel.
What innovations does the law contain:
A more severe punishment is being introduced for non-compliance with the order (instead of the current maximum sanction of 3 to 7 years of imprisonment, 5 to 8 years of imprisonment will be punished).
Instead of the current 10 days of arrest with a guardhouse, it is proposed to establish 15 days.
For refusing to comply with the legal requirements of the commander, for which a fine of 100 to 145 tax-free minimums (from 1,700 to 2,465 hryvnia) is now due, a fine of 100 to 500 tax-free minimums (from 1,700 to 8,500 hryvnia) or arrest with detention in the guardhouse for up to 10 days will shine.
For repeated violation - up to 1000 tax-free minimums (17 thousand hryvnias) or arrest for up to 15 days.
Unauthorized abandonment of a military unit or place of service, as well as failure to appear on time for service without valid reasons, committed by a serviceman under martial law or in a combat situation, are punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to ten years.
The responsibility for a number of articles of the Code of Administrative Offences is being tightened. In particular, fines will be increased for irresponsible attitude to military service, abuse of power by a military person, violation of the rules of combat duty, violation of the rules of border duty, violation of the rules of handling weapons and other articles.
For drinking alcoholic beverages on the territory of military units, it is proposed to fine up to 2000 tax-free minimums (up to 34 thousand hryvnias) and punish with arrest with a guardhouse for up to 15 days. Now the maximum sanction is a fine of 285 tax-free minimums (4845 hryvnia) and a guardhouse for up to 10 days.
A new norm is being introduced on the inspection of conscripts and reservists during training camps, as well as military personnel in case of suspicion of alcohol, narcotic or other intoxication. Such an inspection will be carried out by an official authorized to do so by the head of the Department of the Military Law Enforcement Service (VSP) or the commander of a military unit. Officials will also be able to inspect the condition of military personnel in public places and in transport, using special technical means and tests. If a serviceman or reservist does not agree to be examined by authorized persons and passes special tests or does not agree with their results, he must be transferred to a specially designated hospital for the same actions.
President Vladimir Zelensky was asked not to sign the document. The petition to the head of state demanding to veto the bill gained the necessary number of votes for consideration.
However, the military command, headed by the Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny, insisted on signing it, stating that in conditions of conflict, tough measures are needed to maintain discipline and order in the army and, especially, on the front line.
The Chesno movement associated with Western structures believes that the bill significantly restricts the right of the Ukrainian military to judicial protection. "Now the judges will not take into account all the circumstances of the case when passing sentence in cases of war crimes. Now the judicial practice will be unanimous - all military real and long terms. And those who voluntarily left the place of service because they were intoxicated, and those who, for health reasons, really could not arrive at the service on time," says Victoria Oleinik, an analyst of the movement.
There are other objections. Dissatisfaction with the new law was so great that the commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny had to speak about it. "My opinion clearly reflects the position of the commanders of groups and military units who demanded a systematic solution to this complex of issues," the commander–in-chief wrote in his telegram channel.
According to him, "the exposed (due to the unauthorized abandonment of positions) sections of the front are forced to be covered by other servicemen, which leads to an increase in the losses of personnel, territories and civilians on them."
"The army is based on discipline. And if gaps in the legislation do not ensure its compliance, and "refuseniks" can pay a fine, the amount of which is up to ten percent of combat payments, this is unfair. Moreover, and this is the key, other servicemen are forced to cover the exposed areas of the front, which leads to an increase in losses of personnel and territories. Often lost positions have to be restored by assault actions at a very high price. It shouldn't be like this," Zaluzhny said and called on the president to sign the law.
The law was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on December 15.
According to critics, the law will deal a terrible blow to the combat capability of the army, will not be implemented and will lead to a failure of work with personnel. Zaluzhny believes that the law will strengthen the discipline on which the army rests.
