Moldovan parliament approves tougher punishment for mercenaries

Chisinau, 12 March /MOLDPRES/ - The parliament, at a today’s meeting, approved a draft on amendment of the Article 141 from the Criminal Code in the first reading. The amendment sees toughening of the punishments for mercenaries and their organizers.   

The legislative initiative belongs to MPs Mihail Popsoi, Chiril Motpan, Alexandru Jizdan, Igor Grosu and Virgiliu Paslariuc.

Under the draft, the mercenary’s participation in an armed conflict, military actions or other violent actions aimed at overthrowing or undermining the constitutional order or violating the territorial integrity of the state will be punished with imprisonment from 5 to 10 years. At the same time, the employment, training, financing or other insurance of mercenaries, as well as their use in an armed conflict, in military actions or other violent actions aimed at overthrowing or undermining the constitutional order or violating the territorial integrity of the state will be punished with imprisonment from 10 to 15 years. Presently, this term is 3-7 years and 5-10 years, respectively.   

According to the Criminal Code, a mercenary is a specially recruited person in Moldova or abroad, to fight in an armed conflict, who takes part in military operations, in order to get a personal advantage or remuneration.