Criminal prosecution police have detained a Moscow resident and taken him to a draft office by pretending to be clients in need of a phone repair on an online handymen website, the man told Novaya Gazeta Europe.
Alexander, 20, (name has been altered) earns his living by fixing smartphones and other gadgets through online ad services. On 2 December, a woman called and set up a meeting to get her phone repaired. Alexander’s real name and surname were only specified on this ad website. That is why, he is convinced that the police can only come up with this plot through this website.
“I come downstairs, there are a woman and a man. Well, it happens when a client comes with their husband or wife, no problem."
I reach for a handshake and he handcuffs me, fucking hell!” Alexander says.
According to him, a man in civilian clothing introduced himself as a criminal prosecution police officer, showed his badge, and took him to a police station in a regular car rather than a service one.
“They did not let me use my phone at the station, took off my handcuffs, and treated me well overall. They drew up a report for swearing in public. In that piece of paper I wrote that I disagreed with the report. They promised not to put me in a cell but still did. They brought me food and juice. I was told that I’d be taken to a draft office in the morning,” Alexander continues.
Draft notes were previously mailed to him, but he never received one delivered in person.
The man was then told to go through a medical checkup where he told medical specialists about his conditions. Alexander later was sent to a draft assembly point. Novaya Gazeta Europe received the conscript documents issued for Alexander.
“Some wanker from the draft office was told to supervise me, I went through a checkup. Two cops, traffic police and Russian National Guard officers were waiting for me at the checkpoint exit."
I said my goodbyes, nodded, calmly turned the corner, and then bolted away,” the conscript says.
The police only gave Alexander a note from the draft office, requiring him to go through a medical checkup. The man did not get anything else from the police. Moreover, he did not sign any papers at any stage.
Alexander has now challenged the decision in court. Russian laws stipulate that a person cannot be conscripted while the draft office decision is legally challenged.
In late November, human rights activists noted an increased number of ambushes targeting potential conscripts in Russia as the authorities were struggling to fulfil the national plan for conscription, Mediazona reported.
On 2 December, the news emerged that police officers had detained several students of Moscow’s Financial University in the dormitory. They were taken to the draft office and later to an assembly point.
