Today, on 16 July, the Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis the draft law 11322 on amendments to improve criminal liability for crimes against the established procedure for performing or completing military service during martial law, MP Iryna Herashchenko said. 273 MPs voted in favor.
During the war, it is proposed to release the military from criminal liability for the first offence (unauthorised abandonment of a military unit or desertion) if they voluntarily return to service and receive written consent from their commander.
Suspects of AWOL or desertion are proposed to be allowed to request a change of preventive measure to continue service.
The draft law gives commanders discretionary powers to decide whether to release them from liability.
Herashchenko notes that the draft law needs to be finalised before the 2nd reading.