Russia’s State Duma moves to legalize electronic military summonses, closing loophole in conscription law

Source: Meduza

Russia’s State Duma will consider legislative amendments proposed to legalize electronic delivery of military summonses, writes RBC, citing the Defense Committee Chair Andrey Kartapolov in the Duma.

If passed, the new law will make responding to summonses obligatory regardless of delivery method, Kartapolov said. Under the law now in effect, recipients can legally ignore summonses delivered online, but the new legislation, if passed, will change that.

According to Kartapolov, the amended draft law will limit the evaders’ rights to drive a vehicle, buy and sell real estate, apply for credit, or leave the country. What this means is that people trying to resist joining the army will have fewer options for escaping conscription.

Military draft offices, meanwhile, will have access to a unified register of persons eligible for military service, reports RIA Novosti, adding that this will reduce the number of summonses sent out just to update the information on file.