Courts of St. Petersburg: punishment for AWOL during SVO – on average 6 years in prison

According to an analysis by the joint press service of the courts of St. Petersburg, on average, military personnel who left their military unit due to unwillingness to perform duties during the military military service are sentenced to six years in prison in a general regime correctional colony. These conclusions are based on the consideration of cases in St. Petersburg military courts.

Changes made to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in 2022 concern articles on war crimes and have tightened criminal liability. The new qualifying feature includes acts “committed by military personnel undergoing military service by conscription or contract, during mobilization or martial law, in wartime or in conditions of armed conflict or combat operations.”

Based on the results of consideration of cases under Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Unauthorized abandonment of a unit or place of service” in 2023, the press service reported that the average punishment under this article is six years in a general regime correctional colony. Last year, the St. Petersburg Garrison Military Court considered 102 cases against those who left the military unit due to the desire to “temporarily evade military service duties in the Northern Military District.” Of these, 85 cases received guilty verdicts, 69 of which entered into legal force, 8 were appealed on appeal, 3 – in cassation.

The 224th Garrison Military Court considered 30 cases under Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, sentences were passed in 23 cases, all of which entered into legal force. Two sentences are in the process of being appealed in cassation.

The press service noted that there were no acquittals, since in most cases the defendants fully or partially admitted their guilt.