Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that "the mistakes" made during the current partial mobilization be rectified.
The decree declaring partial mobilization —signed by Putin on Sept. 21 — stipulated that reserve servicemen with previous military experience and men with professional experience required by the military, would be called up. A total of 300,000 men are eligible to be called up, according to the decree.
Putin said there were a lot of questions from the population on this issue and it was necessary to investigate every single case of wrongful mobilization and to return people to their places of origin in case of errors.
The process has been criticized by commentators on Russian state television and prompted an exodus of citizens fleeing the country and protests in several parts of Russia, especially in Dagestan and the Russian Far East. Protestors have accused the Russian military of drafting students, fathers and men whose age should exempt them from service.
In a recorded statement Putin said: “In the course of this mobilization, many questions arise and it is necessary to correct all the mistakes and prevent them from happening in the future for those citizens who need an exemption."
"For example, fathers of multiple children or people suffering from chronic diseases or those who are already beyond the age of military service. It is necessary to consider each such case separately. And if a mistake is made, then I repeat, it needs to be corrected. Return home those who were called up without a proper reason," he continued.