It’s becoming more difficult for Russians to evade mobilization, journalist says
Mobilized Russians (Photo:Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation/Telegram)
Moscow is clamping down on rampant bribery used to avoid mobilization and conscription, Russian journalist Timur Olevsky said in an interview with NV Radio on April 13.
“Everyone I know who works with (Russian) civil servants tells me the pressure on low- and mid-level officials, exerted by security services, has become robust, military-grade,” said Olevsky.
“They are no longer turning a blind eye (to bribery) … It’s impossible to easily bribe your way out of the army, or pay a border guard to cross the border. You could do that before, but not anymore.”
At the same time, he notes it will still be possible for a well-placed bribe to secure a passage abroad and save one from getting mobilized, but the “service” will become “much more expensive.”
“I’m sure that military recruiters and borer guards will begin letting (mobilized) people go, it’s just this will be available only to rich people,” Olevsky adds.
“Less affluent people – the majority of the Russian population – could conceivably avoid getting drafted into the war only by hiding somewhere in the taiga.”
On April 11, the Russian parliament made changes to how mobilization notices are handed out to military age men. The notices can be served digitally, meaning individuals would have 20 days to report to military recruitment offices after the subpoena is sent.
Should they fail to do so, a number of restrictions come into force: they will be prohibited from driving a car, applying for bank loans, selling or buying real estate, with additional penalties open to be levied by regional administrations.
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