20:57, 27 July 2023

Volgograd Regional Court finds it legal to call for military service without medical examination

Anton Kuznetsov (on the left). Photo by Vyacheslav Yaschenko for the "Caucasian Knot"

Anton Kuznetsov, a resident of the town of Kalach-on-Don, has appealed against the call for military service and sending to the assembly point without a medical examination, which the doctor had prescribed for him because of his chronic heart disease, but the courts saw no violation in this procedure.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that due to his religious convictions, Anton Kuznetsov sought for the right to alternative civilian service, but was forcibly sent to a military unit. The believer also appealed against the call prior to medical examination.

Amid the special military operation (SMO) conducted in Ukraine, the demand for the alternative civilian service instead of the military one has grown in Southern Russia. A refusal to take part in hostilities due to one's pacifist or religious beliefs is the constitutional right of any Russian citizen, human rights defenders have pointed out.

The mother of the 21-year-old Kuznetsov has expressed her concerns about her son's possible dystrophy: with the height of 186 cm, he weighs 65 kilograms.

Sergey Syomushin, an advocate, has added that doctors diagnosed Anton with a serious chronic heart disease. Besides, his client is a believer, studies the Bible and "repeatedly declared that he had religious beliefs that are contrary to military service."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 27, 2023 at 02:30 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Vyacheslav Yaschenko

Source: СK correspondent