The text of the draft law on the permission to travel abroad for men under the age of 24 appeared on the website of the parliament
On the website of the Verkhovna Rada published the text of draft law No. 13685, which proposes to allow men of non-conscription age to travel abroad – that is, up to 24 years inclusive.
“We clearly state that mobilization takes place from the age of 25, it is said who is a reservist, conscript, conscript. Everyone who does not fall under this category will have the right to travel abroad without hindrance. Everyone who falls under another category, taking into account the changes that are still in effect, is a reserved person, a serviceman who is on leave, also has the right to cross the border for recreation – all this will continue to work, – said People’s Deputy Oleksandr Fedienko.
According to the explanatory note, currently there is a restriction on the right to leave the country for conscripts and conscripts aged 18 to 60. At the same time, the law “ On mobilization training and mobilization” determines that men under the age of 25 who have completed basic military training or service are not eligible for conscription. The document also does not provide for the possibility of a prize for men aged 17 to 25. However, citizens of this category do not have the right to leave Ukraine even if they are not subject to conscription.
Currently, the exception applies to only two categories: contract servicemen under the age of 25 and students of state or communal higher education institutions of Ukraine aged 18–22 who are studying full-time at a bachelor’s or master’s degree (medical, pharmaceutical or veterinary) and participate in educational academic mobility programs.
“At the same time, a large number of men aged 18 to 25 who work or study abroad have not been able to return to their families in Ukraine for more than three years, because due to the established restrictions, they will not be able to leave Ukraine again. Moreover, some families deliberately send their 17-year-old children from Ukraine abroad, realizing that after they reach the age of 18, leaving will be impossible, says the explanatory note.
The authors of the document stress that the ban on the departure of male citizens of Ukraine aged 18-25 creates “serious obstacles for the return of young people to Ukraine and difficulties in maintaining contact with relatives and the Motherland”.
“This ban provokes the search for ways around it, which are usually associated with breaking the law. Thus, the need to revise the rules for traveling abroad for conscripts and military conscripts who have not reached the age of conscription is obvious and does not pose significant threats from the point of view of ensuring Ukraine’s defense capability, says the memo.
However, men over the age of 25 are subject to general conscription. Therefore, as the authors of the draft law note, in order to avoid abuse of the right to leave, “it is advisable to keep the existing restriction for men who turn 25 in the current or next year”.
