MOSCOW: The Soviet defence ministry faced with large scale draft dodging Baltic republics has decided to use paratroopers to enforce the construction and ordered search for the deserters.
Military commanders in Armenia Georgia Moldavia Latvia Estonia Lithuania and parts of Ukraine have been directed to help drafting boards to ensure the conscription and search for soldiers absent without official leave a Soviet defence ministry release quoted by Tass News agency said Jan 7.
Paratroopers units will be used to help enforce the draft the release said.
Describing the draft situation as alarming the release said that the draft plan has been met by 28.1% in Armenia 10% in Georgia 58.9% in Moldavia 25.3% in Latvia 12.5% in Lithuania and 24.5% in Estonia. For Ukraine no figure was given.
The nation-wide quota has been met by 78.8% the release said adding this threatens Soviet defenses.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 18, 1991
