Latvian Ministry of Defence, local mobile service operators and the State Fire and Rescue Service have started sending text messages to Latvian residents during the ongoing special exercise. However, along with real and informative text messages, residents report having received fake text messages informing them of their conscription into National Defence Service, as reported by the ministry.
On 7 September a number of Latvian residents received a text message allegedly from Latvian Army. In it, residents are informed about having been picked for service in Latvian army and that their service will commence 1 February 2023 and will last for 12 months.
The ministry reports the Latvian army did not send those text messages. Authorities also report there are no plans to send such text messages in relation to conscription in the National Defence Service.
Additionally the ministry reports the first round of conscription is planned for January 2023. The ministry invites Latvian citizens aged 18 to 27 years to sign up voluntarily.
Latvian citizens will have a duty to serve in National Defence Service – men aged 18 to 27 years. Service will be voluntary for women of the same age group.
For the first round of conscription in January 2023 the Ministry of Defence will invite Latvian citizens aged 18 to 27 years to voluntarily sign up for military training. Starting with the second half-year of 2023, citizens will be conscripted on a mandatory basis. Two waves of conscription are planned to take place annually – in January and July.
It is planned to develop four national defence service options: service in a unit of National Armed Forces, service in the National Guard, special military training for university students and state civil service.
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