The State Duma did not support the deferral of mobilization for scientists and non-servers

State Duma deputy from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Mikhail Matveev said that the defense committee recommended rejecting two bills he proposed: on granting a deferment from partial mobilization candidates and doctors of sciencesand not passed military service. The committee’s conclusion states that the proposed measures are not consistent with the approach taken in Russian legislation on mobilization. In January, the committee rejected initiative of Mr. Matveev.

According to Mikhail Matveev, in the bills he proceeded from the fact that the decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin refers to partial mobilization: it involves the call of those with experience in military service. Under the conditions of a special military operation, and not a war, the deputy considered it unnecessary to call for candidates and doctors of sciences.

“However, it turned out that there is no concept of “partial” mobilization in the law and there will not be, and the Defense Ministry cannot limit itself for the future, and the time of mobilization means “military”. The terminology is not the same,” Mr. Matveev wrote in his Telegram channel, where he published photographs of the conclusion of the defense committee. Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of partial mobilization on September 21, and its completion on October 31. However, no official decree on the end of mobilization measures was signed.

According to Mikhail Matveev, the difference in terminology hinders the solution of questions about the conscription of certain citizens. At the same time, the Defense Committee indicated that approaches to partial mobilization at the legislative level cannot differ from approaches to general mobilization.

Mikhail Matveev submitted two of these bills to the State Duma in October 2022. Mr. Matveev believes that “the crisis in science and education in Russia will be irreversible” if scientists continue to leave the country in connection with a possible draft.

In the conclusion of the defense committee, it is said that scientists “who are employed in sectors of the economy critical for the country” can receive a reprieve. In addition, the committee pointed out that mobilization constituted a “special legal regime” under which a delay was provided for under “exceptional circumstances”.

Lusine Balasyan