Several Russian opposition media outlets reported on May 16 that the State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament) Defense Committee recommends rejection of a bill granting deferment from mobilization to certain Russian civilians, likely to support ongoing and future mobilization efforts.
Meduza reports that the State Duma Defense Committee Chairman Andrei Kartapolov rejected the bill that would grant deferment from mobilization to fathers with three children.
The Committee's conclusion said the bill needed “substantial improvement”, and adoption of the bill in its current form will “negatively affect the recruitment” of the army.
State Duma Member Nina Ostanina disagreed with the bill's rejection and noted that the Russian presidential decree defines a “large family” as having three or more children.
The State Duma had previously decided not to adopt amendments that would guarantee deferment from mobilization for fathers with three or more children, disabled children, or single fathers in October 2022, shortly after the start of Russia's partial mobilization in September 2022. The State Duma has adopted an amendment granting deferments for fathers with four or more children under 16.
