The State Duma’s Defense Committee has rejected a proposal to allow potential conscripts to avoid obligatory military service by paying the state 1 million rubles ($33,000), Interfax reported Friday.
The committee cited a decrease in the number of potential conscripts, a problem expected to worsen in coming years because of a demographic crisis, as the reason for its decision.
The draft was introduced in June by the Liberal Democratic Party, which said it would help fight corruption and provide salaries for contract soldiers.
(MT)
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