CrimeaSOS: the new russian bill makes it practically impossible for Crimeans to refuse to be drafted into the occupation army

The bill on the register of conscripts adopted by the state duma of the russian federation strengthens control over the population of conscription age in the occupied territories, practically eliminating the possibility of avoiding criminal conscription into the ranks of the occupying army. This was reported by CrimeaSOS analyst Yevhenii Yaroshenko.

“According to the approved bill, electronic conscription notices will duplicate paper ones. russia will illegally spread legislative amendments to the occupied territories, in particular to Crimea. In this way, the russian authorities strengthen control over the population of conscription age in the russian federation and in the occupied territories, practically depriving them of the opportunity to refuse to serve in the ranks of the russian army”, — says Yevhenii Yaroshenko.

On April 11, 2023, the state duma of the russian federation adopted the bill on the register of conscripts in three readings at once. From now on, traditional paper conscription notices will be duplicated by electronic ones. Conscription notices will be served in written form under receipt, by mail with a letter of delivery and in electronic format. A conscription notice will be considered delivered from the moment it appears in the personal account on the website of the state services. In practice, these innovations mean that it will become almost impossible to refuse to receive a conscription notice from the military commissariat.

Persons who have received a conscription notice will be prohibited from leaving the russian federation until they arrive at the military commissariat within 20 days. In addition, the bill provides that physical presence at the military commissariat during military registration is not mandatory.

The innovations apply to all conscripts. We shall remind you that russia, contrary to the provisions of international humanitarian law, extends its legislation to the occupied territories, in particular in Crimea.

During the years of occupation of Crimea, the russian federation has illegally conducted 16 conscription campaigns in Crimea, and on April 1, 2023, another spring conscription for the occupation army began. In addition, in the fall of 2022, the peninsula was shaken by a wave of illegal mobilization, which was called “partial” in russia. During the first day in Crimea, conscription notices were served to at least 5,000 people, including women. Covert mobilization continued on the occupied peninsula, despite the official notification of its end.

We shall remind you that the conscription of residents of the occupied territories to the ranks of the occupying army is prohibited by Art. 51 IV of the Geneva Convention and is a war crime according to Art. (2)(a)(v) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Forcing citizens of Ukraine to participate in hostilities against their own state is a separate war crime (Article (2)(b)(xv) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court).