Bill: indigenous peoples of Russia exempt from military service

On 30 April, Indigenous Peoples’ Day—which was celebrated for the first time this year in the Russian Federation—State Duma Deputy Fedot Tumusov (a Sakha from the Fair Russia party) introduced a bill that would exempt representatives of indigenous peoples from military service and mobilisation. The deputy’s explanatory memorandum states that this law is necessary to protect the traditional way of life and the future of indigenous peoples. In Tumusov’s view, this is not merely a political issue but a moral obligation of the state: we are talking about small peoples, many of whom number fewer than 1,000 people—according to Tumusov, for such a people, the loss of even a few men is a catastrophe and a direct threat to the survival of the people.

“The spirit of the law is simple and humane. Representatives of indigenous peoples are given the right to choose: if they feel a duty to their homeland, they will join the military. But if a young man feels he is needed in the tundra, the taiga, or the Arctic Ocean to feed his family, raise children, and preserve traditions, then a simple statement to that effect is sufficient. Then he may remain in his home region or perform alternative service. Those who were mobilised before the law was adopted would have the opportunity, at their own request, to terminate their military service early. This is in accordance with Article 69 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation on guarantees of the rights of indigenous peoples. “We cannot speak of preserving culture if the people themselves disappear,” Tumusov said.

The bill has now been registered and is awaiting review. “The adoption of this bill sends an important signal that Russia values indigenous peoples as a national treasure and is prepared to protect them not only in words but also in deeds,” Tumusov noted.

The Russian Federation considers indigenous peoples to be those with a population of fewer than 50,000. Among the Finno-Ugric and Samoyedic peoples, the indigenous peoples include the Nenets, Khanty, Mansi, Veps, Selkup, Bessermans, Saami, Nganasan, Seto, Izhorians, Enets, and Votes.