The Russian authorities have created a digital database of citizens who are eligible to be drafted into the military amid growing rumors of a second mobilization campaign, independent journalists Farida Rustamova and Maksim Tovkailo reported Saturday.
The database will reportedly contain information about Russian citizens gathered from the country’s Central Election Commission, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Health Ministry, the Federal Tax Service and others.
The data will include the address at which each individual is registered, driver's license information, phone numbers and email addresses, data on each individual’s employment and health history, the report said.
The database is expected to be launched in 2024, but a test version is ready and could be used in case of a second mobilization campaign, according to the report.
Last month, Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov told Russian President Vladimir Putin that almost 9,000 reservists had been mobilized illegally during the five-week-long military draft announced in September.
Should the Kremlin announce a second wave of mobilization to redress the Russian military’s shortage of manpower in Ukraine — something that the Kremlin has denied — the new database will likely serve as a powerful tool for recruitment officers across the country charged with fulfilling quotas of new recruits.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
