The Ministry of Defense confirmed the granting of a deferment to clergy

On October 31, 2022, the Ministry of Defense confirmed the granting of a deferment from military service during the period of mobilization to clergymen and students of theological and theological faculties.

This is stated in the response signed by the head of the department for interaction with religious associations of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation O. Veselkov to the appeal of the head bishop of the Russian United Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) Sergei Ryakhovsky dated September 29.

As Sergei Chugunov, a lawyer for the Slavic Legal Center, notes, “deferments from conscription during the period of mobilization are granted on the basis of a federal law or a presidential decree (which is what we see in the case of students). The Ministry of Defense does not have the authority to grant deferrals to categories of citizens .

Recall that the presidential decree of September 24 "On granting a deferment from conscription for military service for mobilization" does not mention the clergy.

On December 22, Patriarch Kirill, speaking at a diocesan meeting in Moscow, announced that he intended to seek legislative consolidation of the decision to grant a deferment to the clergy.

Sources

• Postponement of the clergy during the period of mobilization // Facebook of lawyer S. Chugunov. November 5, 2022
• Report of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the Diocesan Assembly of Moscow (December 22, 2022) // Patriarchy.ru. 2022. December 22.