Chief trial translator Georgy Permyakov alleged that Soviet leader Joseph Stalin may have initially feared that Japan would execute Soviet prisoners of war if the Khabarovsk defendants were hanged.[10]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khabarovsk_war_crimes_trials
7 years in the Gulag VS complete immunity, sealing/destruction of evidence that could lead to their persecution, and a stipend on top
I know what side they'd want to be captured by...