The Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) has approved the third reading of the bill lifting the ban on drafting citizens with a pending felony conviction, Interfax news agency reports.
There are a number of exceptions to the bill: convicted child offenders, terrorists and members of illegal armed formations, as well as citizens convicted of hijacking an aircraft, water or railway transport, illegal handling of nuclear materials, high treason, attempt on the life of a public official, and forcible seizure of power, will remain exempt from the draft.
According to the amendments to the law, citizens who are undergoing alternative civilian service in organisations of the Russian armed forces, other military formations and bodies as civilian personnel, will continue their alternative civilian service following the mobilisation order.