MOSCOW, April 15 (RAPSI) - A bill aimed at reducing the number of Russians who try to evade conscription has been submitted to the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday.

Due to demographic issues in the country and tens of thousands of citizens avoiding military service in recent years, there have been problems with manning the Armed Forces, according to the explanatory note to the bill.

Viktor Ozerov, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, suggests introducing administrative liability for individual business people, managers and other parties who are responsible for the military conscription records at commercial and nonprofit organizations if they fail to provide, in a timely manner, lists of individuals subject to military registration and updates to the list of permanently residing citizens or citizens who have exceeded three months in a temporary residence.

The bill would also impose liability for not informing citizens of their responsibility to appear on summons at a military enlistment office, as well as for not reporting newly enrolled students and newly hired staff or recently dismissed employees who are subject to military registration but have not registered.

The above offenses may be punishable by fines of between 5,000 ($99) and 25,000 ($494) rubles, or an offender may be suspended from his respective positions for between six and 24 months.

Additionally, the proposal includes increasing fines from 1,000 ($19) to 3,000 ($59) rubles for failure to fulfill obligations regarding military registration by citizens, avoidance of medical examination and intentional damage or loss of military registration papers. Repeated offense may be fined by 3,000 ($59) to 5,000 ($99) rubles or an administrative arrest for up to 15 days.