Alaudinov's call to declare mobilization is in conflict with law
According to the Russian law, the Israeli-Iranian hostilities are no ground for declaring mobilization in Russia, but if necessary, authorities can declare it because of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine, analysts have pointed in their comments on Apti Alaudinov's calls to mobilize at least 500,000 people.
"The legal grounds for announcing mobilization are provided in the Federal Law of February 26, 1997, No. 31-FZ "On mobilization preparation and mobilization in the Russian Federation", Sergey Krivenko*, Director of the Human Rights Group "Citizen. Army. Law", has stated.
"According to Article 4 on the powers of the President of Russia, in cases of aggression against the Russian Federation or an immediate threat of aggression, the emergence of armed conflicts directed against the Russian Federation, he declares a general or partial mobilization with immediate notification of this to the Federation Council and the State Duma," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
However, in his opinion, the Iranian-Israeli military actions cited by Alaudinov as the mobilization reason are no legal basis for the Russian party.
"From my viewpoint, Alaudinov's call forms no ground for declaring mobilization in Russia. The Israeli-Iranian war is not aimed at the Russian Federation," Mr Krivenko* has noted.
Artyom Mugunyants, a military lawyer for the “Antiprizyv” (Anti-Draft) community, also believes that these circumstances are no legal basis for declaring mobilization in Russia.
"The Iranian-Israeli war cannot be a basis for mobilization in Russia. These hostilities don’t affect the territory of Russia and are not a direct threat to the country’s population and security. Therefore, I don’t treat it possible from the legal viewpoint to declare mobilization because of this war," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
At the same time, according to the lawyer, the Russian President can declare mobilization at any time by using another basis for this.
"Firstly, this is the Ukraine’s invasion of the territory of the Kursk Region of Russia. Secondly, Russia has new regions where there are constant hostilities, shelling and clashes. Russia can call it aggression; and the president will have legal grounds to introduce the martial law and declare mobilization," Mr Mugunyants has explained, while being sure that the figure given by Alaudinov – 500,000 people – is hardly feasible in the current conditions.
"It is unrealistic to mobilize 500,000 or a million people. The state has prepared the entire legislative base for this, but this is not enough, as there may not be enough uniforms, submachine guns and other equipment, because there was no calculation for such a number. The number of mobilized persons is limited by the availability of sufficient military equipment for those mobilized," he has emphasized.
If Alaudinov proves that Israel's military actions against Iran threaten Russians’ security, and then the grounds for declaring mobilization will be obvious, a female human rights defender acting in the field of military servicemen’s rights, who spoke on condition of anonymity, has noted.
"I don’t understand how Israeli-Iranian war can become a basis for declaring mobilization. Let the author of this call explain to us what kind of threat hangs over Russian citizens. Judging by his position, what is happening with Ukraine is not a threat, but the Iranian-Israeli clash is a threat to us. I don’t see any reason to declare mobilization because of the wars in the Middle East,” she told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.
She agrees with Mugunyants that mobilization can be declared at any time, but for the reason of the SMO.
“The state can use this reason at any time to attract new forces for the SMO. But so far there is no reason to believe that a new wave of mobilization is being prepared,” she has concluded.
This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 17, 2025 at 01:07 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.
Source: CK correspondent