Refworld | Russian Federation: 1. What are the compulsory military service obligations in Russia? 2. Is there any evidence that those performing compulsory military service are sent to serve in Chechnya? 3. What system of alternative service is available to those with a conscientious objection to military service? 4. How is a person's entitlement to perform alternative service determined? 5. Please provide information on the "dedovshchina" system and the treatment of "dukhi". 6. What steps have the Russian authorities taken to combat dedovshchina and what remedies are open to a first year recruit who suffers harm? 7. Are those who perform alternative service also affected by dedovshchina? 8. Are there any reports of people being killed for refusing to fight in Chechnya? 9. Do those from Belarus face discrimination in Russian society and in the military in particular? 10. Are there any reports of military conscripts being harmed for being unhealthy or physically weak? 11. Are there any possible avenues by which a person might avoid military or alternative service altogether? 12. Would a person born in Belarus to Russian/Ukrainian parents have citizenship of Belarus or any other entitlement to enter and reside there?

Title	Russian Federation: 1. What are the compulsory military service obligations in Russia? 2. Is there any evidence that those performing compulsory military service are sent to serve in Chechnya? 3. What system of alternative service is available to those with a conscientious objection to military service? 4. How is a person's entitlement to perform alternative service determined? 5. Please provide information on the "dedovshchina" system and the treatment of "dukhi". 6. What steps have the Russian authorities taken to combat dedovshchina and what remedies are open to a first year recruit who suffers harm? 7. Are those who perform alternative service also affected by dedovshchina? 8. Are there any reports of people being killed for refusing to fight in Chechnya? 9. Do those from Belarus face discrimination in Russian society and in the military in particular? 10. Are there any reports of military conscripts being harmed for being unhealthy or physically weak? 11. Are there any possible avenues by which a person might avoid military or alternative service altogether? 12. Would a person born in Belarus to Russian/Ukrainian parents have citizenship of Belarus or any other entitlement to enter and reside there?
Publisher	Australia: Refugee Review Tribunal
Publication Date	28 July 2008
Country	Russian Federation
Topics	Military service / Conscientious objection / Desertion / Draft evasion / Forced conscription
Cite as	Australia: Refugee Review Tribunal, Russian Federation: 1. What are the compulsory military service obligations in Russia? 2. Is there any evidence that those performing compulsory military service are sent to serve in Chechnya? 3. What system of alternative service is available to those with a conscientious objection to military service? 4. How is a person's entitlement to perform alternative service determined? 5. Please provide information on the "dedovshchina" system and the treatment of "dukhi". 6. What steps have the Russian authorities taken to combat dedovshchina and what remedies are open to a first year recruit who suffers harm? 7. Are those who perform alternative service also affected by dedovshchina? 8. Are there any reports of people being killed for refusing to fight in Chechnya? 9. Do those from Belarus face discrimination in Russian society and in the military in particular? 10. Are there any reports of military conscripts being harmed for being unhealthy or physically weak? 11. Are there any possible avenues by which a person might avoid military or alternative service altogether? 12. Would a person born in Belarus to Russian/Ukrainian parents have citizenship of Belarus or any other entitlement to enter and reside there?, 28 July 2008, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4f3f7ec92.html [accessed 21 May 2023]
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