Those who evade mandatory state defense service will now be contacted by the Military Police, which will decide on the initiation of administrative proceedings. Evasion is punishable by a fine of up to 750 euros, and it can be imposed multiple times. ## ## Some conscripts continue to evade for years "There are young people who were selected by random selection back in 2024, and they are still continuing to evade service. Since it is impossible to contact them, the Military Police imposes fines. We can invite people for medical examinations every six months when the conscription takes place. Thus, one person can receive either an administrative fine or a warning twice a year," said Sven Jānis Anžans, senior expert of the state defense service department of the Ministry of Defense. Mandatory state defense service can be called up until the age of 26. If a person evades service during this time and regularly pays fines, theoretically, they can avoid conscription, but this could cost them several thousand euros. However, there have been no such cases so far, as mandatory conscription began only three years ago. "When the Military Police first contacts a person, asking them to appear and provide explanations, in most cases, that is when changes occur. By the time we start imposing fines, the person has already made a deliberate decision to continue evading service. And then, after they turn 26, if they pay the fines, they are left alone," explained Kristers Grauze, director of the state defense service department of the Ministry of Defense. ## ## Many challenge the conscription A number of conscripts have appealed the summons. About a third of young people subject to mandatory conscription were deemed unfit for service based on medical examinations. "The main reasons are related to neurological and psychiatric issues. There are also vision problems. Additionally, there may be surgical issues, operations undergone, or other medical interventions that these young people have previously undergone," noted Anžans. As a result, in July, only 60 out of 400 individuals subject to mandatory conscription began service. This constitutes only 5% of the total number of recruits.