The State Duma on Tuesday approved a law introducing year-round military conscription in Russia. Under the new system, the draft will no longer be conducted in seasonal campaigns but will instead become continuous. However, conscripts will still be sent to their military units twice a year, as before.
According to the outlet Verstka, the bill envisions a radical overhaul of the conscription system. Draft boards will now operate throughout the year, carrying out medical examinations and psychological evaluations on a rolling basis.
The authors of the bill justify the initiative as an effort to improve the “quality of conscription.” Human rights advocates, however, argue that the authorities aim to create a permanent infrastructure for the constant replenishment of the army.
As Verstka notes, the reform will make it more difficult for conscripts to avoid being drafted. They will no longer be able to delay required procedures and will face the risk of police detention at any time of the year.
