First criminal charges in Russia for dodging mobilisation

A Penza man will face criminal charges for avoiding mobilisation, becoming the first person in Russia to do so, Pavel Chikov of Agora, a human rights group, says.

The suspect, 32, refused to sign a draft card and was detained by the special purpose police. He has been kept in a pre-trial facility for two days at this point. The man is facing up to two years in prison.

Chikov says that Russia’s Criminal Code Article 328 cannot be used to file criminal charges against men dodging mobilisation. “As per the Supreme Court’s ruling, this article may only be used against men avoiding regular, non-mobilisation conscription,” he says.

The man’s lawyer has applied for termination of the case.