Wednesday, 2 Jul 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > Lawyers overwhelmed by requests to help Russians avoid fighting in Ukraine
World

Lawyers overwhelmed by requests to help Russians avoid fighting in Ukraine

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
Lawyers overwhelmed by requests to help Russians avoid fighting in Ukraine
SHARE

*

Fear and chaos break out after Putin’s Sept. 21 announcement

*

Huge increase in demand for advice to avoid call-up

*

Lawyers share tipsheets, webinars on mobilisation

Oct 4 (Reuters) – Swamped by panic-stricken requests for help to avoid being drafted, Russian lawyers say they are working flat out to offer advice to those at risk of being sent to fight in Ukraine.

Lawyers and civil society groups say they have been overwhelmed by demands for support since President Vladimir Putin announced on Sept. 21 that 300,000 people would be mobilised to boost Russia’s flagging war effort.

Hundreds of thousands have fled to countries such as Kazakhstan, Georgia and Finland. Many more remain in Russia and are hiding from military recruiters, praying they won’t be summoned or hoping for exemptions from service.

“We are working round the clock,” said Sergei Krivenko, who runs a group of around 10 lawyers called Citizen. Army. Law.

“People are being torn from their normal lives,” he said. “This is a mobilisation without time limit during a war. It could last months or years. People may not return … Leaving the army is pretty much impossible. The only way is death, injury or prison for disobeying orders.”

Implementation of the mobilisation has been chaotic. Though billed as enlisting those with military experience and required specialities, it has often appeared oblivious to individuals’ service record, health, student status or even age.

Putin last week acknowledged mistakes and said they must be corrected. “For example, I’m thinking of fathers of many children, or people suffering from chronic diseases, or those who are already past conscription age,” Putin said.

The governor of the far eastern region of Khabarovsk said on Monday that the military commissar there had been fired after half of the newly mobilised men were sent home because they did not meet the criteria to be called up.

‘LEAVE RUSSIA NOW’

On social media, tip sheets on how to avoid being mobilised circulate alongside forms for claiming medical exemptions or becoming a conscientious objector and instructions for filling them out.

Human rights lawyer Pavel Chikov said on Monday he and his team had delivered advisory webinars to 10,000 company employees. His followers on messaging app Telegram have more than tripled to 466,000 in the past two weeks.

Stories have spread like wildfire of men who should be exempt under the stated criteria but have been called up anyway.

“Those coming to us are panicked. They don’t understand what is happening,” said Krivenko. “They are calling up anyone. And the law allows them to recruit anyone.”

Dmitry Lutsenko, who co-runs a group called Release offering legal advice and information, said: “The best way to avoid conscription is to leave Russia now.”

The second best option is to hide, he said. “Avoid signing a summons… avoid military offices. The legal punishment for not going is a small fine and I don’t know of anyone who has been fined yet.”

Kirill, a 26-year-old from southern Russia, said he could not leave behind his pets and so had gone underground, working for cash and not living at the address the military thinks is his.

“They can’t take me so easily,” he said.

Lawyer Alexei Tabalov said on Facebook that young people and women asked for help far more often than older men, and those older men who did speak up were often fatalistic and obedient to authorities.

“At the same time, we see crowds of men voluntarily going to military bases,” he said. “I want to scream – why did you go? Run, leave while you can! But no, they are quietly standing and waiting. What are they waiting for?” (Reporting by Reuters)

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article ‘Humbled’ Chris Cuomo vows to call out ‘the game’ of American politics on premiere of new show ‘Humbled’ Chris Cuomo vows to call out ‘the game’ of American politics on premiere of new show
Next Article Iran says it launched test ‘tug’ into suborbital space Iran says it launched test ‘tug’ into suborbital space

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

‘Home of the Dragon’ Season 2, episode 7: Who’re Vermithor and Silverwing’s new riders?

Discovering new dragonriders isn't any straightforward process, however in Home of the Dragon Season 2,…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

‘Hungry’ Pilot Starring Ariel Winter Not Moving Forward at NBC

NBC has opted not to move forward with its comedy pilot “Hungry,” which originally starred…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Russia-Ukraine latest news: Shelling of Chernobyl nuclear plant staff sparks UN alarm

A man walks along a deserted road near a burning warehouse hit by a Russian…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

‘Father of the Bride’ Director Charles Shyer Useless At 83

Charles Shyer, the writer-director finest recognized for the "Father of the Bride" remake starring Steve…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Minister declines to rule out tax rises after welfare concessions – UK politics dwell
World

Minister declines to rule out tax rises after welfare concessions – UK politics dwell

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Choose orders Queensland council to pause deliberate demolition of homeless camps
World

Choose orders Queensland council to pause deliberate demolition of homeless camps

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Not less than 16 folks killed and 400 injured in Kenyan protests
World

Not less than 16 folks killed and 400 injured in Kenyan protests

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
‘We won’t allow them to get away with this’: activists to sue Tanzania’s authorities over ‘sexual torture’
World

‘We won’t allow them to get away with this’: activists to sue Tanzania’s authorities over ‘sexual torture’

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?