A/HRC/40/CRP.3 their motive.137 International human rights law guarantees to everyone the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose their own residence within their own country. 138 E. Forced conscription 112. The reporting period was marked by the eighth conscription campaign of Crimean residents into the Russian Federation Armed Forces since the beginning of the occupation. During the latest campaign, which ended in December 2018, approximately 2,800 men from Crimea were enlisted, bringing the overall number of Crimean conscripts to at least 14,800 men.139 The number of the enlisted Crimeans has significantly increased from 500 conscripts during the first military draft in 2015. 113. Draft evasion is punishable under Russian criminal law by up to two years imprisonment. OHCHR notes that criminal prosecution of Crimean residents for evading Russian military drafts has intensified during 2018, with at least 21 guilty verdicts. 140 One defendant was sentenced to a suspended prison term, while others were fined. Forced enlistment adversely affects the enjoyment of human rights of potential conscripts, restricting their free movement and access to education and employment. In one case, a resident of Crimea was forced at his local military draft commission to leave Crimea or face conscription in the future. Registering at the military draft commission was also a prerequisite for receiving his university diploma in Simferopol. 141 114. As an occupying power, the Russian Federation must comply with international humanitarian law prohibiting compulsion of Crimean residents into its armed or auxiliary forces.142 No pressure or propaganda aimed at securing voluntary enlistment is permitted. 137 138 139 140 141 142 28 Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. ICCPR, Article 12. All figures are approximate and primarily based on reports of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. These are the verdicts verifiable through the Russian Federation court registry. OHCHR has been able to verify three such verdicts in 2017. OHCHR interview, 15 January 2019. Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

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