MOSCOW. Jan 11 (Interfax) - The number of Russian citizens dodging the draft declined by 20% in 2016 compared to 2015, Col. Gen. Vasily Tonkoshkurov, chief of the main organizational and mobilization department of the Russian armed forces General Staff, said on Wednesday.
"The number of citizens evading the draft was 20% lower in 2016 in comparison with 2015," Tonkoshkurov said in summing up the outcomes of the 2016 fall draft campaign.
The public's attitude toward the armed forces and military service has significantly improved over the past several years, with 89% of respondents having positive attitudes toward the armed forces and 92% saying there is no hazing in military units, Tonkoshkurov said, citing information provided by the Russian VTsIOM public opinion survey center.