US concerned over sentences for evading military draft in occupied Crimea

“We are very concerned by recent reports that Russia has been sentencing residents of Crimea for evading the Russian military draft. We call on Russia to end its illegal occupation of Crimea and respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine posted on Twitter.

Since Crimea was occupied by Russia in 2014, at least 69 criminal cases have been opened against the residents of Crimea under Article 328 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for evading military draft in the Russian Armed Forces.

Russian military draft in the territory of the occupied Crimea violates Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which states: “the Occupying Power may not compel protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces. No pressure or propaganda which aims at securing voluntary enlistment is permitted.”

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