State Duma Throws Out Military Service Exemption Bill

VLADIVOSTOK. October 20. VOSTOK-MEDIA – The State Duma has thrown out the bill proposed by Liberal Democratic Party that seeks to permit young men to buy their way out of the mandatory 12 months military service.

“A great number of young men in Russia continue draft dodging even though they may end up in prison,” said Maksim Rokhmistrov, a member of Liberal Democratic Party. “We propose an opportunity for those young men that prefer being jailed to serving in the army the opportunity not to commit the offense.”

State Duma rejected the proposal that would allow draft-age men to pay 1 million rubles ($33,000) fee to be freed from mandatory military service, the Gazeta.ru daily reported.