Translated material
How not to become a potential killer?
On January 25, 2024, Doxa was recognized as an “unwanted organization”.
If you are in Russia or plan to return to it, you can not replace our materials on social networks, refer to them and publish quotes.
Read more about what is possible and impossible, read in the cards .
Since February 24, many Russians have been living with fear of drafting in the army. Military service translators, medical workers, citizens with a male gender marker in a passport and without a military ID, as well as those who have served in the army and are in reserve - they all risk falling under the spring appeal and mobilization.
Someone solved this problem using emigration, but not everyone has such an opportunity. In this article we will talk about how to legally avoid military service if the basis for this is anti -war beliefs. The hero of this material is Grigory Sannikov, he will tell how and to whom he confirmed his anti -war beliefs, and share the experience of the alternative service.
Illustrator
Illustrator
SandyPublication
June 25, 2022
Since the beginning of a full -scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian authorities have consistently stated that the conscripts do not participate in the “special operations”, but there are many evidence that refutes the thesis of propaganda. In the hands of the journalist_k there are both personal stories and statements by representatives of the authorities about cases of the participation of soldiers in the war.
In April, the Moscow cruiser “Moscow” sank in the Black Sea - the same ship sent by the fuck during the attack on the island of Zmein at the beginning of the war.
- DOXA magazine (@Doxa_Journal) June 23, 2022
1/10 pic.twitter.com/wvod7mypf4
- It is known about the sunken crew " Moscow " with three hundred conscripts;
- The military prosecutor of the Western District announced six hundred military soldiers at a meeting of the Federation Council;
- The volunteer, helping the Russian army, learned about the two groups of conscripts that experienced problems with supplies: lack of food, drinking water and the necessary equipment.
The participation of soldiers in the war against Ukraine is a crime. Everyone has the opportunity to avoid military service - legal and absolutely free.
Here is a list of factors that the presence of which frees you from urgent service:
- The diagnosis from the " schedule of diseases " - a list of diseases exempting from the draft in the army;
- degree of candidate or doctor of science;
- direct family relationship (parents, relatives of the brothers and sisters) with those who died in the performance of military service;
- the presence of outstanding criminal record.
If you cannot be released from military service, then pay attention to the categories of people who are provided with a delay from the army - this is one of the ways to avoid military service. For example, a delay can be obtained at the time of study at a university.
If you are absolutely healthy and have not found a single coincidence in both lists, then you have the right not to go into the army if you are a supporter of anti -war views. The calls in Russia have the opportunity to replace military service with an alternative civilian (AGS).
AGS is a common job: there is a salary and weekends, vacations and an employment contract. The passage of the AGS exempts from military service and any participation in the work of the Armed Forces in the future. Alternatives cannot be drafted into the army in case of universal mobilization.
To get a referral to an alternative service, you must write a statement with a description of your beliefs incompatible with military service. And also you need to provide an autobiography and characteristics from the places of work and study.
Often, when submitting an application, the most incomprehensible stage is precisely an autobiography. In its preparation, it is advisable to use the memos from the movement of conscious refusers. Check out the example of an autobiography and general information about the application. In the last document, you can find the contacts of the human rights activist, who can send an autobiography for verification and ask for advice.
In more detail about the AGS can be read on the Coalition website of the human rights defender for a conscious rejection of military service. And with us, Grigory Sannikov, who passed the AGS, shared his experience with us.
"And if the enemy attacks you, and everyone will dodge you like you?"
I am 22 years old, I live in Moscow. I began to go through the AGS when I was 19 years old. I realized quite early that I would not serve either in the Russian army or in any other: I am an antimilitar, I am not ready to pick up a weapon and use it against anyone. In Russia there is a law that allows you to replace the usual service with alternative if there are beliefs that are incompatible with military service.
It all starts with the submission to the regional military registration and enlistment office of the alternative service. By law, this must be done six months before the call. In case of being late, you need to describe the reasons.
The application should have characteristics with study and work, as well as your autobiography, where you will describe the history of the formation of your beliefs and justify the desire to replace military service on the AGS - this will be your admission to the commission, where everything will be pronounced in person.
About four months have passed from sending the application to the commission. It was also necessary to undergo a medical examination: if a person is not suitable for military service, then he will not be taken on an alternative.
To the commission itself, you can invite human rights activist or lawyer_ka. I came with my mother-officer (as a relative), and in the presence of a lawyer they refused me.
The commission must be prepared. You need to understand why you are it and why you have the right to it.
The members of the commission are struggling to knock the ground from under their feet: they ask tricky questions, try to catch on contradictions and motivate to serve in the army.
To the question of the commission "And if the enemy attacks us, and everyone will dodge as you?" I replied that in wartime, assistance to hospitals, the export of the wounded and providing provisions is important. And I am ready to do this.
They also asked me what I would do if they attack my mother. When I replied that I would defend her, they retorted to me: “Oh, so you can protect my mother, but why not?”
The conversation sometimes goes on "according to concepts."
It is very important not to succumb to provocations, to remain convincing and consistent. When you stand in front of the commission and your fate is decided for the coming years, you experience a lot of stress. Therefore, you need to prepare well. It would be nice to find someone who has already passed the commission and rehearse the dialogue.
There were times when the calls were refused, but after that they did not give up and received their own. The refusal can be challenged: apply to the district court, then in the city and further until the ECHR. There are no legal ways to prohibit the "alternative". I knew a guy who filed an application six times and passed the commission, and then received permission.
How to prepare for the raids and avoid a forced call?
In the fourth month of full -scale invasion of Ukraine, the military commissars began to resort to the raids - violent detentions of the calls.
Since June 1, human rights defenders are writing about the preparation of the raid. Cases in Moscow and Tyumen are already known. Recently, Twitter’s user told the story of how her colleague was “ kidnapped ”, who went to the military enlistment office to confirm the category of indistancy.
After a long time I have no absence, I return with fuckers fucking the news
- Hey, Polina (@sur_po) June 6, 2022
A colleague was stolen from us
Police by force deliver the calls to the medical commission, after which they are sent to the assembly point for sending to the army.
You need to prepare for the raids in advance:
- It is necessary to issue a power of attorney for a loved one with the right to submit administrative claims and submit your interests in all institutions and organizations.
- Prepare the contact base of a lawyer_ok and a human rights defender Math, with whom you can contact in emergency situations.
The Coalition of the Human Republic of Human Rights for the abolition of military service prepared a detailed memo on how to prepare for the raids and confront the illegal draft in the army.
It is important to remember that raid is unlawful practice. Violation of the law in relation to you does not deprive the right to replace military service with an alternative civilian. Do not be afraid of the criminal actions of the security forces - you can refuse to pass the draft events and demand a referral to the AGS.
We talk about Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, protests and repression. We believe that now, when dozens of media have closed or ceased to cover the war, access to independent information is more important than ever. Help us shout to you about the war and mobilization - we will tell you how to protect ourselves from military service and how to hide from it.
“The most important difference between the AGS and the army is that you work along with ordinary people” by choosing an alternative civil service, you get several significant advantages compared to conscripts:
- Firstly, you will not be killed and will never receive an order to kill other people;
- Secondly, you do not lose touch with your family and have enough free time for anti-war activism, entertainment and rest;
- Thirdly, you get a job near the place of residence and keep a dream in a comfortable bed, and not in a barracks.
Grigory Sannikov underwent alternative civil service. This is what he talks about his experience
He underwent alternative civil service in a neuropsychiatric boarding school
Grigory Sannikov
Unfortunately, a person cannot independently choose a place of service. The military registration and enlistment office sends profiles to the labor exchange, which is engaged in distribution. I served in a neuropsychiatric boarding school in Moscow. At first he worked on the catering unit: washed the dishes and unloaded the cars. Then I became a handyman: I helped in the departments, cut the bushes and cleaned the snow. In places it was quite difficult - both physically and psychologically.
The alternative service lasts AGS lasts 21 months - it is 640 days. Speak of vacations and weekends, 432 business days (3456 hours) remain. The service in the army occupies the soldier all day, with the exception of sleep, several hours of free time per week and rare runs. A year in the army is 5600 hours. You will spend at least one and a half times less time on an alternative service. Nine months longer than ordinary, but you have a weekend and vacations. The fact of time needs no more, but even less: in the army you serve 24 hours a day, and here only eight.
The road to work took me a little more than an hour. We had a regular schedule from eight to five, after work the whole evening is free. I was still preparing for competitions then, often took shape with me and ran 14 kilometers to the house, sometimes went to the hall. The whole weekend was free. Sometimes I even forgot that I was serving.
Three more people passed with me. One of us was in the warehouse, while the others were in the kitchen, then they changed. After work, we usually chatted for a long time about everything in the world, laughed. It was good.
The most important difference between the AGS and the army is that you work along with ordinary people. There is no stamp that you are an alternative: you have the same salary, the same vacation and sick leave. The only difference is that you can be fired only in case of a rigid violation of the terms of the contract, and you also cannot quit at your own free will.
There were difficult situations, conflicts with the leadership, but this is incomparable with what I would do in the army.
Because here you are a person with full rights and views on life. You will not be forced to paint grass, and in the army you are not a person, you are a combat unit.
For me, the AGS period became transitional, because I lived with my parents until 18 years old, worked as part, but no more. And here he began to work, felt like an adult. They say that the army makes you a man. In the case of an alternative, it seems to me, it is much closer to reality.
In places there was even fun: once there was a holiday dedicated to the day of a person with mental disorders. I entered there to speak with the dance, for two weeks instead of work I went to rehearsal, and then I gave me another five weekends.
As for payment, it should not be expected from AGS. Passing alternative service receive a salary, it should not be lower in the minimum in the minimum in the region.
I started with 17 thousand, then I began to earn 25. There are still bonuses - three months before the dismissal I received the New Year, almost 110 thousand, I was very pleased.
No one can force you to serve in the Russian army. You have the opportunity to avoid the obligation to walk in a drill step in the line, obey the criminal orders of the authorities and lose freedom for a whole year. Tell your military friends and friends about the website Aggsnowar.info , about the hotline of the coalition of the human rights to the telegram .