MOSCOW. March 13 (Interfax-AVN) - About 250,000 eligible conscripts dodged military service in Russia in 2012, General Staff department head Maj. Gen. Viktor Glotov said at a meeting of the Federation Council expert panel on Wednesday.
"Some 8,794 young men failed to report for military service. Besides, over 235,000 eligible conscripts purposefully changed their place of residence to avoid summons from military registration and enlistment offices," Gen. Glotov said.
Forty thousand citizens who did not serve in the army without valid deferrals were transferred to the reserves last year upon turning 27.
"Actually, these citizens had been dodging military service and were transferred to the reserves for age reasons," the general said.
More than 1.5 million young Russians enjoy military service deferrals, he added.
Some 1.4 million young men appeared before draft commissions in the enlistment campaigns of 2012, Glotov said.
"Some 21,600 men with higher professional education were drafted to the Armed Forces and other services last year or practically 20% of the total number, which was good for the Armed Forces staffing," the general said.
Only 69.9% of young men were found eligible for military service with or without minor health limitations, and 52.2% appeared to be ineligible for the Interior Ministry Forces, the Navy or some other forces for health reasons.
"Around 500-600 to 1,000 young men are prosecuted for dodging military service each year," Main Military Prosecutor's Office department head Maj. Gen. Alexander Nikitin said.
Administrative charges are annually brought against 15,000 draft dodgers.
The prosecutor said that the administrative fines had petty rates.
"I think the fines should increase manifold," the general said.