Putin signs law on digital draft notices

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the law on digital army summons, Russia’s state news agency TASS reports.

On 12 April, the bill was approved by Russia’s Federation Council, the upper house of Parliament. Out of 164 senators, 163 voted in favour and only one against — Lyudmila Narusova, mother of Russian politician, journalist, and media personality Ksenia Sobchak.

The State Duma, lower house of Russia’s parliament, adopted the amendments to the conscription law in all three readings. The bill changes the way draftees are summoned and sets out new limitations for those who evade conscription. It took lawmakers less than 24 hours to first announce the intention to pass the bill and ultimately adopt it in both chambers.

Russians who receive summons in any way set out by the bill will not be allowed to leave the country. Those who received a notice will then have 20 days to present themselves before the designated military enlistment office. If potential draftees fail to do so, they will be stripped of the right to work as self-employed persons, obtain bank loans, and register properties or vehicles.

According to the bill, notices will be sent digitally, to citizens' accounts on Gosuslugi, a public services portal. If a draftee does not have a Gosuslugi account or they haven’t received the notice via traditional means, it is deemed received seven days after it is uploaded to the national “draft notice registry”.