Russia, which lacks troops, suspends trial when defendants go to military

Russia, which has sent prisoners to the battlefield in Ukraine, has decided to suspend the trial if the defendants of criminal cases join the army.

According to the Associated Press, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an amendment to the criminal law on the 2nd local time.

Existing Russian criminal law said convicted inmates can be released if they register with the military, and suspects who are under investigation but have not yet been tried can stop the investigation when they enlist.

The revision also allows defendants in the trial phase to suspend criminal proceedings if they agree to a military service contract.

The measures were introduced as Russia suffers from a shortage of troops in Ukraine's "special military operation" that has lasted more than two and a half years.