The Financial Times reported in January that families of the victims of these criminals are not informed that the men are now free, instead finding out from other locals in their towns and villages.
The outlet outlined one example in Yaroslavl, where Nikolay Ogolobyak killed four teenagers and was jailed. He later secured freedom after serving in the Russian military in Ukraine.
The criminal later told local media: “People say: ‘God forbid I meet a man like that at the playground.’ But I won’t do anything to anyone. I’m not going to attack anybody. I don’t want to go back to prison. I had my fill.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has defended Russia‘s policy in the past, saying: “Even those convicted of the most serious crimes…[can] atone for their crimes on the battlefield.
“They are redeemed by spilling blood, by [serving in] assault brigades, under a hail of bullets and artillery fire.”
Explaining the role that Wagner soldiers played in the war, Mr Luhn added: “Most of the 19,500 Wagner fighters that died were prisoners recruited from Russian prisons and promised freedom in exchange for 6 months fighting on the frontlines in Ukraine, this was a controversial and new tactic at the time.
“We saw Prigozhin [the Wagner leader] appearing personally in prison yards and recruiting these prisoners, no matter what their crimes. They could earn their freedom on the frontlines.
“That ended up being key to Russia‘s war offensive at the time as those prisoners ended up bearing most of the casualties.
“That Bakhmut operations made a hero out of Prigozhin, who became enveloped in this very public disagreement with the Russian military command. He claimed they were not given enough ammunition.
“This led to him leading a march on Moscow in this coup attempt against the military leadership in Moscow. It was the most dangerous moment for Putin’s regime that we have seen in all 24 years of his rule.”
Priogzhin died two months after the botched mutiny. Putin claimed the Wagner boss’ helicopter crashed after a grenade was detonated onboard, denying any involvement in his death.
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