The deferment applies to those attending state universities and vocational colleges
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday gave university and vocational college students a draft deferment. The move comes three days after a partial mobilization of reservists was announced in Russia.
According to a presidential decree published on the Kremlin’s website, a deferment is granted to students who are enrolled at state-accredited vocational or higher-education institutions. The decree covers only students attending state educational institutions and research organizations for whom this is “the first such education.”
“This Decree comes into force from the date of its signing and applies to legal relations that arose from September 21, 2022,” the document reads, referring to the date when the partial mobilization was announced.
Earlier on Saturday, meanwhile, Putin signed new legislation amending Russia’s Criminal Code. Service members who “voluntarily surrender” to enemy forces during an armed conflict will face up to ten years behind bars upon returning home. First-time offenders, however, are allowed to avoid punishment if they flee from captivity and return to their unit. Other provisions of the new law include up to ten years in prison for service members who refuse to take part in armed hostilities, as well as for those who desert or dodge being drafted. Looting during wartime or a military operation carries a prison term of as long as 15 years.
The Defense Ministry said earlier that it intends to enlist 300,000 people into active service, prioritizing those with combat experience and specialties required for the military operation in Ukraine.
RT (Russia Today) is a state-owned news organization funded by the Russian government. The information provided by this news source is being included by the Libertarian Hub not as an endorsement of the Russian government, but rather because it is being actively censored by Big Tech, Western governments and the corporate press. During times of conflict it is imperative that we have access to both sides of the story so we can form our own opinions, even if both sides are spewing their own propaganda. The censorship of RT, despite likely being a propaganda outfit for the Russian government, reduces our ability to hear one side of the conflict. For that reason, the Libertarian Hub will temporarily republish the RSS feed from RT. Visit https://rt.com
