Russia toughens penalty for voluntary surrender
And for refusal to fight
24 September, 18:19A separate law, also signed on Saturday, facilitates access to Russian citizenship for foreigners who enlist in the Russian army. Foreigners who spend at least a year in the Russian army will be eligible to request citizenship, bypassing the normal requirement for five years of residency in the country. This measure seems primarily aimed at Central Asian migrants from former Soviet republics, who are typically hired for strenuous, low-paying jobs. On Tuesday Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced the opening of a recruitment centre in the Sakharovo migration centre, an important passage point for migrants. Even before the law came into effect, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan had warned their citizens not to take part in any armed conflicts.
(ANSA-AFP).