Russia must tighten up draft system: Lukin

MOSCOW, July 9 (UPI) -- Russia must tighten up its military draft system, the nation's human rights chief said Friday, according to an Interfax news agency report.

Out of 100 young men registered for military service in recruiting offices in 2003, only nine performed military service, Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin told a news conference.

"There are now 24 official reasons why one cannot be drafted, compared to nine in the former Soviet Union. Still, citizens unfit for military service are drafted on numerous occasions," Lukin said.

"Of the class of 2003 draftees, 34.9 percent had not worked or studied in a higher education institute before being conscripted, 21.7 percent were dropouts, 53 percent were not fully healthy, 19.5 percent had been raised in a one-parent family, 6 percent were registered with the police for anti-social behavior and 5.1 percent had quashed court sentences," Interfax said.