And many were mobilized before the outbreak of hostilities. The reasons given for the amnesty of so many Russian inmates was disease and overcrowding within Russia's prison system. This most recent consideration of amnesty is not an isolated instance. Last year, there were significant amnesties within Russia, and a very large amnesty in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. It is said that Russia has the highest per capita prison population in the world.
Suspects often spend years behind bars without trial, hoping for a chance to vindicate themselves.
The alleged overcrowding in Russian prisons is said to produce epidemics. Suddenly the Kremlin cares about the health of these prisoners. It is not possible to say, since little information has been published on this in Russia. Rumors about amnestied prisoners going directly into the Russian Army were circulating last year, especially during the Kosovo crisis. In a related move, President Putin has ordered that Russian boys, ages 15 and up, will attend military indoctrination classes.