Russian district court rules partially in favor of defendant in first mobilization evasion case

A district court in Russia ruled partially in favor of Maksim Moiseyev, a defendant in Russia’s first case concerning evading mobilization. The human rights group Voyennye Advokaty [Military Lawyers] says the court ruled that Moiseyev should be paid 20,000 rubles (around $220) as compensation for unlawful criminal prosecution.

The case against Moiseyev was opened in late September 2022, after he twice failed to appear at a military enlistment office after receiving a summons. In early October, Moiseyev was arrested by special police and placed in temporary detention. He was released two days later, and the prosecutor’s office declared a criminal case against him illegal, since it came under a law applying to citizens who decline mandatory military service.

After that, Moiseyev sought damages for hedonic damages, for intangible loss of quality of life, in the amount of 300,000 rubles ($3,324). Moiseyev plans to appeal the district court’s decision.