Four years after Putin announced a ‘partial mobilization,’ rumors of another wave are spreading. Meduza asked lawyers how Russians can protect themselves.

Four years have passed since Russia announced a partial mobilization, yet rumors persist of another wave of mobilization. While the likelihood of such a move remains uncertain, it is crucial for all Russians to know how to safeguard themselves. Meduza collaborated with Artyom Klyga and Timofey Vaskin, heads of the legal departments at the Conscientious Objectors Movement and Conscript School respectively, to create a guide offering essential advice.

The guide emphasizes the importance of preparing documents and contacts that can be critical in times of crisis. Russians should keep a "safety folder" containing a power of attorney, agreement with an attorney or legal adviser, notarized copies of their passport and military registration document, medical records, and documentation proving any deferments or exemptions. Optional items include printed instructions on what to do if stopped or taken to a police station, military recruitment office, or assembly point.

In addition to the safety folder, Meduza suggests carrying about 20 blank sheets of paper and a pen for writing complaints and formal requests. Templates for various official statements and reports are also provided, including those for refusing a military service contract, declining a medical examination, and filing complaints about abuse of authority.

For those who may be detained, Meduza recommends saving relevant contacts on both phones, including loved ones, attorneys or legal advisers, and human rights advocates. Important government agencies and hotlines should also be saved, such as conscription hotlines, police station duty officers, the Russian Interior Ministry’s hotline, and regional human rights commissioners. If detained, immediate contact with these agencies via the saved numbers can provide crucial evidence of any rights violations.