20,000 youths evade conscription in Russia every year

10.3% of the young men eligible for military service in Russia will be conscripted this year. 175,806 people will be conscripted during the autumn call-up (October-December). As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this was announced yesterday by Lieutenant-General Vasily Smirnov of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces. He said that up to 20 thousand youths evade military service every year during the call-up period. However, he also said that this number was higher in previous years and occasionally even reached 30 thousand.

'The number of young people avoiding military service is falling and the Defence Ministry is hoping that Russian citizens recognise their duty to society,' he said. 'This autumn, if necessary, measures will be taken to locate conscripts trying to evade military service.' Mr Smirnov said that such measures are necessary and they are in line with Russian legislation.