image source, Getty Images
Russia is seeking to replenish its forces in Ukraine, experts say.
Although Russia officially avoided talking about a new wave of mobilization, its Parliament approved on Tuesday a series of instruments to facilitate the recruitment of soldiers for the war.
One of the most controversial measures is that Moscow will now be able to summon its citizens to compulsory military service. electronically.
Previously, enlistment documents had to be submitted in person or through an employer in Russia.
Under the old system, many avoided conscription by moving home or simply arefrain from opening the door to the military who brought the notification.
But now, according to the new legislation, they will be sent via email and the government will consider the summons delivered as soon as it appears on a special “state services” government portal called “Gosuslugi”.
The Gosuslugi federal state information system is an interface used by almost all Russians in their interactions with the public administration. Through this application you can process from the issuance of identity documents to the payment of municipal taxes.
“The call is considered received from the moment it is posted on a person’s personal account scaptured al military service“, explained Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the Defense Committee of the Russian Parliament, in an interview on a state television channel.
From that moment on, the person summoned must report to their local enlistment office.
Retaliation
Citizens who do not show up will be banned from traveling abroad and could face other restrictions, how to buy and sell property. Their driving license will also be revoked.
Konstantin Markin, a lawyer specializing in the protection of the rights of military personnel, considers the measures unconstitutional.
Markin explains that, among other things, it is illegal to deprive a person of the right to drive his car or dispose of property without considering a criminal or administrative case in court.
According to legal experts, there will no longer be a legal way to evade recruitment under the new law.
Russians who do not want to go to war now have only two options: emigrate or take out alternative civilian service, a form of national service that is performed in lieu of compulsory military service for various reasons, such as health problems or conscientious objection ( usually for ethical or religious reasons).
But both possibilities should be studied in advance, experts say.
Of the 395 Russian parliamentarians who voted for the law, all supported it except one who abstained. Russia’s lower house or State Duma has 450 deputies.
The new law will enter into force when signed by President Vladimir Putinwhich is expected to happen this week.
Last September, the Kremlin launched an emergency mobilization campaign to support Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, after a series of failed invasions.
image source, Getty Images
Thousands of people demonstrated last year in Russia against military conscription amid the invasion of Ukraine.
More than 300,000 retired soldiers and ex-conscripts are believed to have been called up. According to reports, the youths were often recruited on the street or in shopping malls.
Thousands of men between the ages of 18 and 27 they fled abroad to avoid recruitment.
The announcement also sparked a series of protests in numerous Russian cities, which were quickly suppressed.
According to recently leaked Pentagon documents, Russia is estimated to have suffered between 189,500 and 223,000 casualties since the start of the invasion.
Those figures include between 35,500 and 43,000 deaths and between 154,000 and 180,000 injuries.
The BBC has compiled a list of 17,000 Russian servicemen confirmed dead, by collecting information from open sources, including names, ranks and, in many cases, the military units in which they served.
image source, Getty Images
Russian forces have suffered significant losses of equipment and men in their offensive against Ukraine.
The last time the Russian authorities revealed casualty figures was in September last year, when they confirmed the death of 5,937 soldiers.
“Cannon fodder”
President Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, denied that the new legislation was linked to an attempt at broad mobilization: “This is simply to improve military records. The system has to meet modern requirements.”
But many in Russia have strongly criticized the new law.
“(Gosuslugi), a once-handy government portal turned out to have another faceIlia Krasilshchik, who founded the Helpdesk website, which offers advice and assistance to Russian men trying to avoid being sent to Ukraine, tweeted.
Krasilshchik warned that the site has now become a mechanism to provide the Russian state with fodder for Ukrainian weapons.
Remember that you can receive notifications from BBC Mundo. Download the new version of our app and activate them so you don’t miss out on our best content.