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I’m Maksim Polyakov, a correspondent for the online magazine “7x7.” The autumn draft for the Russian army begins on October 1. Just a week ago, authorities planned to deliver e-summons directly to conscripts’ personal accounts via one of the government’s digital portals.

However, the release of this service has been postponed yet again, this time until January 1, 2025. In this newsletter, I’ll explain the changes coming with the launch of the new drafting tools.

This e-mail was prepared with the help of activists from OVD-Info, independent human rights defence and media group, and members of the Get Lost movement, who assists those unwilling to participate in the war in Ukraine to desert.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

How E-Summons Work

Russian citizens are drafted twice a year, in the spring and autumn. The spring 2024 draft was the first to take place after the upper conscription age was raised from 27 to 30. The autumn draft was meant to coincide with the introduction of the e-summons register, but its launch has now been delayed until January 1, 2025.

There are a few important things to note about the register. It is essentially a database that collects information about conscripts from more than two dozen sources, ranging from the Ministry of Sports to the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Any changes in a citizen’s status in any of these systems will be reflected in the register.

The decree establishing the register references two databases: the military registration register and the e-summons register. Information about conscripts and those eligible for service, who are expected to be called to the enlistment office or drafted soon, is drawn from the Unified Military Registration Register (UMRR) and transferred to the e-summons register.

“The UMRR is a troubling and grim prospect for conscripts. In the future, it could potentially be used for other mobilization activities,” explained a lawyer and human rights defender, who collaborates with OVD-Info and specializes in military and mobilization law. The expert requested anonymity.

The decree establishing the UMRR was issued by Vladimir Putin in late 2022. In April 2023, another law was passed, further amending the legislation on military service. It introduced the concept of the "e-summons" and the so-called "presumption of receipt" rule: if a summons is added to the register, it is automatically considered delivered, even if the conscript is unaware of it. The authorities, however, have repeatedly pushed back the launch date and the issuing of e-summons due to technical challenges, according to a military lawyer working with OVD-Info.

It Is Impossible to Evade E-Summons

A digital summons bearing the conscript’s name is considered delivered seven days after being added to the e-summons register. A lawyer from OVD-Info believes it is impossible to evade this. To check if they’ve received one, individuals must visit the e-summons register website. Law enforcement officers monitoring the site will immediately know if the conscript has seen the summons and become aware of their military duties.

As soon as the summons is issued, the conscript will be unable to leave the country. The Ministry of Digital Development is also working on a separate system for direct communication between the Ministry of Defense and the FSB’s border service.

“If you ask, ‘How much time does one have after learning about the summons?’ the answer is pretty upsetting: ‘None.’ The travel restriction takes effect immediately. The mere fact that the summons has been added to the register, combined with not reporting to the enlistment office, makes you a draft dodger. The only way to avoid this is to stay out of Russia,” explains the OVD-Info lawyer.

A person of conscription age might not have an account on Gosuslugi (the platform where important documents for Russian citizens are stored, and digital services are accessed), might not have a phone number, might not check databases, use the internet, or review their email and physical mailboxes — but the summons will still be delivered automatically. Once issued, the conscript is considered obligated to report to the military office, even if they are unaware of the summons.

Test Mode

The e-summons register website has been launched in test mode in three regions: Ryazan Oblast, Mari El, and Sakhalin. It's important to note that I am referring to the website, not the register itself. In Moscow, e-summons are already being issued, but they currently hold no legal force and can be ignored.

However, many Russian men are receiving summonses to "clarify their military registration details." I personally was sent one last week. This is simply a tactic by the Ministry of Defense. The goal is to get men to visit the military enlistment office under the guise of updating their personal files, where they will be pressured to sign a military contract.

The Get Lost movement emphasizes that any summons for activities like medical examinations or meetings with the draft board must occur strictly within the timeframe of the autumn draft (October 1 to December 31) or the spring draft (April 1 to July 15).

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