Companies Spring Up to Help Young Russians Avoid the Draft Legally, Say 95 Percent of Those Called have Legal Basis for Deferment

Paul Goble

            Staunton, February 26 – Despite polls showing that the image of the Russian military has improved among the population and that tough economic times make the regular pay provided by the military more attractive, many young Russians want to avoid the draft; and a new group of companies has arisen to help them gain deferments.

            A representative of one of the oldest of these firms, “No Draft” (priziva.net/) told Znak journalist Dmitry Komarov how it functions.  There are three bases for avoiding military service, the representative says -- medical, legal and alternative civic service – and his company can help and has in the case of 30,000 young Russians (znak.com/202026/kak_rossiyskim_prizyvnikam_legalno_pomogayut_izbezhat_sluzhby_v_armii_razbiraemsya_s_prizyvanet).

            Alternative service requires young men to perform 18 months of poorly paid labor for the state far from home and seldom is attractive. The legal path is “less universal.” Among those excluded from the draft by law are those with academic degrees, sons or cousins of soldiers who have died in the course of military service, those in jail or facing legal action, and students (until they finish school).

            “In practice,” the No Draft” representative says, “the majority of those called are freed from service based on the state of their health. Such men need not be obviously ill, but they must have a medical problem that makes them unfit for the rigors of military service and this must be well-documented. That is something his company can make happen.

            The company’s lawyers know what the laws are, work with doctors and draft boards and thus can ensure that those seeking a medical exemption have the best possible chance of avoiding service. They can appeal decisions by the boards, although such steps are rarely necessary, the representative says.

            Those who seek to get a deferment by offering bribes should recognize that such an approach is both dangerous – it can involve a criminal sentence of up to 15 years in prison – and carries no guarantee that the person bribed will in fact do what he or she promises, the “No Draft” rep says.

            “Military service is a responsible and noble task,” he continues, “and if you feel ready for it, of course, one must go into the army. However, many Russians who are called justly fear dedovshchina or simply feel that they would be wasting a year. According to ‘No Draft,’ 95 percent have legal bases for not serving.

            Using those bases is “your right,” he says; and the lawyers and doctors at his firm and others are ready to help.