Russian Defense Ministry denies considering extending conscription period
MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - The question of increasing the military service period for conscripts is not under consideration, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"The Russian Federation Defense Ministry is not considering any legislative initiative to increase the period of military service for conscripted citizens," the ministry told Interfax on Wednesday.
"As earlier, those drafted into military service are citizens aged between 18 and 27, who are notified by a notice from the military commissariat handed and to be signed by them personally," the ministry said.
The current mandatory period of service is one year.
Last fall the Armed Forces drafted 134,000 people, the ministry said.
"The plan to conscript citizens into military service was implemented in full," the ministry said.
As for citizens who failed to show up to military commissariats after receiving notice, they have been fewer and fewer each year and currently account for no more than 0.2% of the total number of those who were sent letters of conscription, the ministry said.