Russian blogger faces criminal charges for allegedly evading military service

Russian blogger Mikhail Litvin is facing criminal charges for allegedly evading mandatory military service. 

The 25-year-old, who commands a large following on social media, allegedly ignored three official summonses issued since early autumn. Authorities warn that if Litvin fails to report for a mandatory medical examination, he could be placed on a federal wanted list, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media. 

Under Article 328 of the Russian Federation’s Criminal Code, evading military service without legal grounds can lead to a prison sentence of up to two years.

Litvin had previously been exempted from conscription and was placed in the military reserve in 2018. However, following a public joke in which he claimed to have "bought" his military ID, Moscow’s military authorities launched an investigation. The probe uncovered irregularities, prompting the city prosecutor's office to annul his exemption and revoke the military ID.

By Sabina Mammadli