Respondents’ attitudes towards draft evasion are moderately negative. The draft evaders themselves as well as their peers see no need to strengthen the measures to combat draft evasion.
MOSCOW, April 16, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study devoted to the military service evasion.
The current conscription procedures (young men aged 18-26 who are subject to military conscription are handed in a call-up notice by the representatives of the military commissariats to appear at their draft board) do not have any impact on the number of draft evaders, according to the majority of respondents (68%).
Sixteen percent of respondents (27% among the 18-24-year-olds) agree that the conscription system leads to an increase in the number of draft dodgers.
Russians tend to condemn (35%) or do not understand (21%) those who refuses to serve in the army. Few respondents approve them (5%) and understand them (24%). Condemnation is expressed mainly by those aged 60 and over (46%), appreciation is expressed by Muscovites and Petersburgians (35%) and young Russians aged 18-24 (27%). A further 11% are indifferent to possible draft evaders (the share of the 18-24-year-olds is 25%).
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 7-8, 2018. The survey involved 2,000 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Today young men aged 18-26 are subject to military conscription and the military commissariats hand them in a call-up notice to appear at the draft board. Some people think that this procedure increases the number of evaders, i.e. those who evade military service. Others say that this does not have any impact on the number of evaders. Which statement do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
The current conscription procedures lead to increased number of evaders | 16 | 27 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
The current conscription procedures do not have any impact on the number of evaders | 68 | 66 | 66 | 75 | 68 | 64 |
Don’t know | 16 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 24 |
Today young men aged 18-26 are subject to military conscription and the military commissariats hand them in a call-up notice to appear at the draft board. Some people think that this procedure increases the number of evaders, i.e. those who evade military service. Others say that this does not have any impact on the number of evaders. Which statement do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million cities | 500-950, 000 inhabitants | 100–500, 000 inhabitants | Less than 100,000 inhabitants | Rural area |
The current conscription procedures lead to increased number of evaders | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 21 |
The current conscription procedures do not have any impact on the number of evaders | 68 | 66 | 71 | 72 | 69 | 70 | 62 |
Don’t know | 16 | 21 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 15 | 17 |
People have various attitudes towards those who evade the military service in the Russian army. What is your attitude towards them? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||||||
| Total respondents | Men | Women | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
Likely to support them | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Likely to understand them | 24 | 18 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 |
Unlikely to understand them | 21 | 22 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 19 |
Likely to condemn them | 35 | 39 | 32 | 19 | 22 | 30 | 42 | 46 |
Indifferent | 11 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 3 |
Don’t know | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
People have various attitudes towards those who evade the military service in the Russian army. What is your attitude towards them? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million cities | 500-950, 000 inhabitants | 100–500, 000 inhabitants | Less than 100,000 inhabitants | Rural area |
Likely to support them | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
Likely to understand them | 24 | 35 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 19 |
Unlikely to understand them | 21 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 19 | 21 | 25 |
Likely to condemn them | 35 | 24 | 32 | 31 | 38 | 38 | 38 |
Indifferent | 11 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 9 |
Don’t know | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!