Four conscripts fined €100 for missing mandatory State Defense Service checks

On September 25, the Military Police of the National Armed Forces reviewed four administrative violation cases involving young men called up for State Defense Service (VAD) who failed, without valid justification, to appear for checks set by the Ministry of Defense. Each of them was fined 20 fine units, equivalent to €100. Details of the decisions were published in the official gazette "Latvijas Vēstnesis" in its October 2 issue. The fined individuals were born between 2005 and 2007.

Wider context

An earlier notice published in "Latvijas Vēstnesis" in early September revealed that a total of ten young men called up for State Defense Service, including the four mentioned above, had been summoned to provide explanations and attend hearings on administrative violation cases related to their absence from checks. Four of those cases were heard on September 25, while the remaining six were scheduled for hearings on September 29. No information about decisions in those six cases has yet appeared in the official gazette.

Separately, a September publication also reported a fine imposed on another conscript, born in 2007, who likewise failed without justification to appear for checks set by the Ministry of Defense. In that case, the fine was higher — €150.

Penalties set out in law

Under the State Defense Service law, every person called up is required to appear for checks at the time and place indicated in the summons issued by the Ministry of Defense, and to complete them. Failure to appear for the designated checks, or failure to complete them, without valid justification can result in a warning or a fine of up to 150 fine units, or €750.

Decisions made by the Military Police can be appealed within ten working days of being issued.