In recent weeks, numerous Serbian citizens and military reservists, have been receiving mass call-ups for military exercises. Going to these exercises often implies absence from work or college, so many do not respond at all, even though it is a legal obligation, which results in fines or imprisonment.
These invitations have been delivered to reservists across Serbia, and the citizens who receive them are mostly unpleasantly surprised.
“I found a notice for undelivered mail in my mailbox, looked at the address, and called the number. I was surprised when someone from the military department, formerly the local community office in Zvezdara, answered. They told me it was a call for military exercises. They asked for my year of birth and explained they were updating the reserve list and that I needed to register,” said Bojan D. (31), who has been living and working in Belgrade for several years.
However, Bojan has no intention of responding.
“I’m not going to do anything, I’m not going to show up, let them send more summonses. Besides, this one didn’t even reach me. If I hadn’t called, I wouldn’t have known I needed to respond. I don’t know what the procedures are, but I certainly won’t join the army or be mobilized in case of war. I have a job, family, and responsibilities, and agreeing to these exercises would require me to be away for two weeks, which I can’t and don’t want to do,” Bojan said, adding that several of his friends in his hometown, who are of similar age, have also received calls for reserve duty and military exercises.
Imprisonment for up to two months
Attending these exercises is a legal requirement. Failure to comply or to provide a valid excuse results in fines ranging from 10.000 to 50.000 dinars or up to 60 days in prison.
The Ministry of Defense’s website provides information about calling up reserve personnel, including schedules and military exercises across Serbia.
According to the Law on Military, Labor, and Material Obligations, reservists can be called up for exercises for up to 90 days within a single year.
Exercises can be interrupted or postponed in cases of illness, simultaneous military service of a household member, exam schedules, participation in international sports competitions, scientific, research, or artistic events, death or serious illness in the family, or disasters leading to severe material hardship.
Salary for reservists
Requests to defer an exercise must be submitted to the territorial authority where the person is registered within eight days of receiving the summons.
Reservists employed during the training period are entitled to wage compensation equivalent to their average salary over the previous 12 months before the summons.
Self-employed reservists, during the training, are entitled to compensation in the amount of the base, from which they pay the contribution for mandatory social insurance.
A person in the reserve forces who is not insured based on employment or self-employment, an agricultural insurance holder, as well as a person in the reserve forces who receives a pension or financial compensation due to temporary unemployment, is entitled to financial compensation in the amount prescribed by the Government of Serbia during their service in the reserve forces or the training for which they have been called up.
Information about the calling up of persons from the reserve forces is provided to announce the schedule and military exercises within the jurisdiction of the Defense Obligations Administration of Serbia, N1 writes.
E.Dz.
