Svetlana Kuznetsova,
head of the Soldiers’ Mothers faction in the YABLOKO party,
says that “YABLOKO is categorically against the amendments
referring to a legalized “buy-out” from the army service,
as they are discriminatory and targeted at commercialization
of the army. The authors of the amendments say that the state
does not have enough money for a contract-based army; whereas
every such one million roubles [about USD 30,000 paid by a
young person wishing to avoid mandatory military service]
will suffice for maintenance of two contract soldiers. Since
2001 YABLOKO has been insisting that the state has enough
money on a contract army and our economists can prove that”.
“If the amendments are adopted we shall immediately see stratification
of our society, and also this will lead to legalisation of
corruption and will already at present raise the amount of
bribes for escaping the military service”.
See also:
The
Russian Army
Human
Rights
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