MOSCOW. Oct 5 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has signed a decree granting deferment of partial mobilization to students of private universities that have state accreditation, as well as to graduate students and students of spiritual establishments.
The issue of deferments to students of non-state universities was raised in a meeting with Putin and the winners and finalists of the Teacher of the Year contest by a meeting participant.
"As to deferments of mobilization for students, the Defense Ministry initially said that there is no need to mobilize a whole number of categories of our citizens, and it stated them. But no relevant changes were still made to the legislation, and therefore the draft decree presented by the Defense Ministry and the government came out in such a form that [...] relevant adjustments have to be made to this document," Putin said.
"Today I have issued a decree, it has already been signed, which introduces these adjustments, including on the issues you have now brought up," the president said.
He then read some provisions of the decree.
"Deferments of mobilization for military service shall be granted to citizens who are receiving education of a relevant level for the first time, who study full time and part-time in educational and scientific organizations according to vocational and higher education programs that have state accreditation, including internships and assistantship programs," Putin said, quoting the document.
"When I speak about educational establishments that have state accreditation, I mean private educational establishments. We practically don't have any without state accreditation. Those are some very small organizations, not educational establishments," he said.
Putin also said students of "educational and scientific organizations under programs to train scientific and scientific-pedagogical staff in graduate schools" are eligible for deferments of mobilization.
"Graduate students will not be taken, either," Putin said.
Students of "spiritual educational establishments" also have deferments from mobilization, he said.
"This decree takes effect on the day of its signing, that is, today, and it applies to legal relations that arose from September 21, 2022," Putin said.
"I think the issuance of this decree today will solve the problem you have raised," Putin said.