Russia Raises Conscript Age Ahead of More Mobilizations
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russian legislators have voted to raise the maximum age at which men can be conscripted from 27 to 30, making more of them liable to serve in the army as the nation struggles with its ongoing invasion in Ukraine.
The measure passed by the lower house of parliament on Tuesday still needs to be approved by the upper house and President Vladimir Putin, but this is seen as a formality.
It comes as Ukrainian and Russian forces continue their battles, including from trenches in a war that has killed and injured hundreds of thousands of people, including soldiers whose lives had barely begun.
Last autumn, the government announced a mobilization of 300,000 reservists, but as a result, tens of thousands of men fled Russia.
Separately a measure passed last week raised to 55 the maximum age at which reservists can be called up to fight in Ukraine.
The latest measures expected to enter into force on January 1 next year go further than the Defence Ministry’s original proposal.
It wanted to change the conscription age range from 18-27 to 21-30. The lower age limit will continue to be 18.
The draft law also bans men from leaving the country from the day of their call-up. Since April, conscription papers can be issued online instead of in person.
In addition, men who fail to report for conscription will be liable for fines of up to 30,000 roubles ($332), a tenfold increase.
However, there have been signs that wealthier Russians and oligarchs have escaped call-ups in a nation where corruption thrives, critics say.
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