In Latvia, Conscripts Were Selected by Lottery: Failure to Appear Will Result in a Fine
On Tuesday, conscripts for urgent military service in Latvia were selected by lottery - a draw was held to determine which young men would have to serve in the army. Failure to appear will result in penalties.
This was reported by Latvian TVNET and TV3.
A total of 480 people are expected to be drafted into the army for the third conscription. A total of 515 people have voluntarily applied for this draft, of whom only about 320 have been declared fit for service for health reasons, and another 150 will be called up on a mandatory basis.
To select these 150 people, 300 young people were chosen by lot. The army estimates that half of those selected will be found unfit for service.
Young people aged 18 and over are eligible for the 11-month military training in Latvia.
"Taking into account the planned assumption that half of the young people will pass the tests, 150 of the 300 young people who have been selected will be drafted into the army," the director of the Defence Ministry's department, Vitalijs Raktins, said earlier.
The draw began on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the building of the Ministry of Defence and was broadcast live. It was held between Latvian young men aged 18 to 19. The draw was made using a special computer programme, randomly.
According to the Latvian authorities, the selection process was successful and there was no external interference. The owners of the winning tickets will be sent for a medical examination, and summonses will be sent to them by email or to their registered addresses. The selected persons will then have to undergo a medical examination at the Medical Centre of the National Armed Forces in Riga.
Those who serve in the Latvian Defence Forces receive EUR 600 per month on a voluntary basis, while conscripts will be paid EUR 300 per month.