Source:

Neue Zürcher Zeitung: 73 Russian soldiers deserted in the South of Russia [ID 11818]

"Im Süden Russlands sind in der Nacht zum Donnerstag 73 russische Soldaten desertiert. Von den Soldaten der 589. motorisierten Infanteriedivision seien 62 nahe der Stadt Samara wieder aufgegriffen und zu ihrer Kaserne zurückgebracht worden, sagte ein Sprecher des Verteidigungsministeriums. Die übrigen 11 seien noch auf der Flucht. Nach Angaben der Agentur Interfax ging der Flucht ein Streit zwischen Soldaten aus der Region und aus der Föderationsrepublik Dagestan voraus."

14.11.2006 - Source: UK Home Office

Draft evasion and desertion is widespread, there are approximately 40,000 deserters at any given time; desertion is punishable by up to 7 years' imprisonment; authorities maintain several means of monitoring draft evasion ("Operational Guidance Note: Russian Federation") [ID 19925]

"Draft evasion and desertion are widespread, which is prompted by the fear of being sent to serve in Chechnya and poor conditions and human rights violations within the armed forces. There are several means of draft evasion. Many young men obtain false medical documents through bribery and are consequently exempt from service for health reasons. Others simply do not respond to call-up papers. According to the Ministry of Defence, there were 21,000 draft evaders in 2004 and 25,000 in 2003. According to estimates, there are approximately. 40,000 deserters at any given time in the Russian Federation.

Draft evasion and desertion are punishable under the Criminal Code. Draft evasion is punishable by a fine, arrest for three to six months or up to two years' imprisonment (Article 328). Desertion is punishable by up to seven years' imprisonment, up to ten years in case of an armed conflict or collective desertion (Article 336). Leaving a military unit is punishable by up to six years' imprisonment or up to two years' sentence in disciplinary battalions (Article 337). Criminal prosecution may be waived if the non-authorised absence or desertion is committed for the first time or if the desertion was caused by a combination of grave circumstances (Article 338).

The Russian authorities maintain several means of monitoring draft evasion. The military and police authorities regularly conduct search operations for draft evaders and deserters. When recruitment officials fail to hand over the draft summons to draft age men they inform the police. The police then stop and detain them at home or in the streets, and hand them over to the military authorities. The majority of these conscripts are sent to military units on the same day as their detention. There are no detailed figures available on the criminal prosecution of draft evaders but because of its scale, it is probably practically impossible for the Russian authorities to prosecute all draft evaders. Even when caught some draft evaders may avoid criminal prosecution through bribery.

In recent years the Russian authorities have announced several amnesties for draft evaders and deserters. The latest amnesty was announced in 2003 following the adoption of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic when the State Duma passed a series of resolutions on the amnesty of persons who ‘committed socially dangerous acts’. This amnesty regulation also applied to draft evaders and deserters who reported themselves to the authorities by 1 September 2003. Despite the declared amnesty, NGOs have reported that many Russian soldiers released in Chechnya are still being held in Russia and are under criminal investigation for desertion."

Document(s): Open document

11.09.2002 - Source:

Washington Post: 2,270 Russian soldiers deserted in the first half of this year ("Alleging Abuse, Russian Soldiers Leave Post") [ID 11817]

"Desertions are a routine occurrence in Russia's demoralized and underfunded 1.2 million-man army. A report in the weekly defense review of the Moscow newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta in July quoted the Defense Ministry as saying that 2,270 servicemen deserted in the first half of this year, of whom 860 are still missing."

Document(s): Alleging Abuse, Russian Soldiers Leave Post

04.2002 - Source: UK Home Office

UK Home Office: Draft evasion is punishable by on eto three years' imprisonment, five years in aggravated circumstances ("Country Assessment - April 2002") [#7107],  [ID 11816]

"Draft evasion is widespread and punishable by one to three years' imprisonment, five years in aggravated circumstances. Sources suggest that there are around 20 grounds for legal deferment, which result in high numbers of potential recruits delaying conscription. Many families, fearful of brutality in the ranks, pay huge illegal bribes to avoid conscription of their sons, sometimes paying for forged medical certificates alleging fatal or incapacitating diseases, while other potential conscripts resort to self-injury. Such desperation is encouraged by the army's notorious reputation for bullying, including torture and rape, particularly of new conscripts. Military desertion is punishable by three to seven years' imprisonment, five to seven years or execution in wartime. Like draft evasion, military desertion is widespread and can be attributed to bad conditions and human rights abuses in the armed forces, as well as to a fear of being sent to conflict zones such as Chechnya. Refusing to bear arms in combat or quitting from the battlefield without permission is punishable by fifteen years' imprisonment or execution. The Criminal Code also criminalises acts such as "incitement for desertion from military service and providing refuge to a deserter," punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. Estimates indicate that there are as many as 1,500 deserters in Moscow alone, while the Soldiers' Mothers Committee says there are 12,000 nationwide. During the conflict in Chechnya between 1994 and 1996, many conscripts deserted their units, sometimes on conscientious grounds, and went into hiding either to avoid further participation in the fighting or to avoid being sent to Chechnya. At that time, there were reports of mass extrajudicial executions of groups of deserters by the Russian military authorities."

Document(s): Open document