Russian State Duma deputies to submit bill that would criminalize draft evasion

Russian State Duma deputies plan to submit a bill to parliament that would make draft evasion a criminal offense. Under the legislation, draft dodgers could face fines from 200,000 rubles ($3,250) to 500,000 rubles ($8,126) or the equivalent of 1–3 years of their income, forced labor, or up to five years in prison.

According to Ernest Valeev, one of the bill’s authors, only people who evade conscription after receiving a draft order will be subject to criminal liability. He said that the bill closes a gap in Russian law, as the country’s Criminal Code currently only provides for criminal changes for people who fail to undergo the mandatory military service required of all Russian men. Valeev also noted that the new legislation will not apply to Russia’s most recent mobilization campaign “because it’s been officially announced that mobilization is over.”

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