ZHELEZNODOROZHNY, Moscow region. May 12 (Interfax-AVN) - Over 30% of young Russian would-be conscripts were turned down by a medical commission due to health conditions, Deputy Chief of the Russian Army General Staff Vasily Smirnov told journalists on Thursday.
Over 64,000 conscripts will join the army after completing training at DOSAAF (Voluntary Society for Cooperation with the Army, Aviation and Navy) schools, he said. About 4,000 conscripts have been trained in related military specialties, he added.
Over 20,000 post-graduate students got a deferral in 2010, Smirnov said.
"There is no problem in drafting post-graduates. This problem is a myth. We are working in a certain legal field, where all young men who study at universities, including postgraduate students, have the right to a deferral," Smirnov said.
Army recruitment commissions include education officials, he said.
By law (Article 24(2) of the law "On military duty and military service"), postgraduate students are entitled to a deferral of army conscription, provided their university has a state accreditation for relevant areas of training (specialties).