MOSCOW. Oct 1 (Interfax-AVN) - A senior Russian general claimed on Tuesday that the law permitting draftees to do alternative civilian service instead of military service is being enforced successfully.
"Altogether more than 1,200 people have been drafted for alternative civilian service. Today 914 people are serving," Col. Gen. Vasily Smirnov, deputy chief of the General Staff, told reporters.
However, draft dodgers make up a large proportion of this category, according to statistics Smirnov cited. "Today 319 of those drafted for alternative civilian service are listed as fugitives," the general said.
As for draft evasions in general, 1,251 people evaded the draft in 2007. They accounted for 1.2% of all draftees for that year, Smirnov said. There have been 5.840 cases in 2008, he said.
Prosecution authorities took up the cases of 6,425 alleged dodgers in 2007 and have taken up the cases of 4,064 in 2008.
Smirnov said 104 people were convicted of draft evasion in 2007 and that 91 have been convicted of the offense in 2008.