Pressured or forced to sign a military contract

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Refusing to sign carries no penalty. In practice the contract is open-ended — until mobilisation ends — and the posting is decided by the Defence Ministry, not the recruiter.
• Signed but not yet in service: immediately file a withdrawal statement at the enlistment office in two copies with a receipt stamp — a representative with power of attorney can do it.
• A conscript being pushed or forced: submit a withdrawal report to the commander before the contract order is signed; parents can write to the unit commander and the ministry. Collect evidence of pressure.
• If the contract is already in force: complain to the military prosecutor and sue in the garrison military court within three months of signing, asking for interim protection.
• If there is violence a conscript may leave the unit, but this is a last resort. If there is any way to get in touch, first ask Call to Conscience for advice, and keep evidence of the violence. After leaving, you must report to military investigators within 48 hours, or risk a case under art. 337 CC. Where to turn: Call to Conscience, Soldiers' Mothers, COM.

current as of September 25. More: Call to Conscience: contract recruitment; Call to Conscience: a conscript forced into a contract