On Wednesday, April 5, in the third reading, the Saeima adopted the Law on the State Defense Service and related amendments to other laws introducing the State Defense Service. The first call-up service will begin on July 1.
The law stipulates that Latvian citizens – men – can be conscripted into the National Defense Service within a year after reaching the age of 18. If a citizen who continues to receive education (except for higher education) after reaching the age of 18, he will be subject to national defense service within one year after graduating from an educational institution. On the other hand, if the educational institution will not graduate before reaching the age of 24, within one year of reaching the age of 24. Men and women between the ages of 18 and 27 will be able to apply for voluntary service.
The law defines a number of exceptions when conscription into the national defense service can be postponed. There are also certain cases when a decision on not being drafted into the service is accepted.
Several types of execution of the national defense service are foreseen. It will be possible to fulfill 11 months in the National Armed Forces regular forces or National Guard unit, as well as five years in the National Guard in general, performing service tasks for no less than 21 days of individual training and no more than seven days of collective training each year. Also, from January 1, 2024, it will be possible to perform the service by studying the reserve officer program intended for university and college students. Persons subordinate to the National Defense Service who, due to their thoughts, conscience or religious beliefs, will not be able to perform the military service of the national defense, will be able to replace it with the civil service of the national defense.
When completing the call-up for the military service of the national defense, it is planned to include citizens who volunteered for the service as a priority. On the other hand, in order to complete the missing part of the enlistment, it is planned to use random selection. It is supposed to be held in proportion to the number of citizens subject to the national defense service, declared in each district. It is planned that until 2027, citizens who permanently live in a foreign country and have notified their address of residence in a foreign country to the Directorate of Citizenship and Migration Affairs will not be conscripted into the national defense service.
The law stipulates that a warning or a fine of up to 350 euros will be issued for failure to attend the prescribed inspections at the place and time indicated in the summons of the Ministry of Defense without justifiable reason. On the other hand, for evasion of the military service of the state defense, the person performing the military service is expected to be prosecuted in accordance with the procedures specified in the Criminal Law.
The law will enter into force the day after its promulgation.
