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Chairman of the Civil Control Committee of the YABLOKO party
Valeri Borschyov said that YABLOKO oppose the government's government's
draft law on alternative service prepared by the Ministry of Defence.
In his view, the draft virtually blocks the formation of the institution
of alternative army service. In addition the four-year term envisaged
in the government draft should be considered discriminatory and
oppressive. Under international experience, such a term should
not exceed the term of the military service more than 1.5 times.
If the government's draft law is adopted, Russia will become the
only country in Europe where the term for alternative service
will be so long.
According to Borschyov, even though the draft law is presented
by the Minister of Labour, the draft makes no mention of the social
sphere and health care and focuses instead on conducting service
as civil personnel in military units. YABLOKO also opposes t the
principle that stipulates that the would-be-conscript has to justify
his intention of civil service. This contradicts Article 29 of
the Constitution of the Russian Federation. As the dispatch on
the civil service will be carried out by the district military
commissions, YABLOKO is concerned that would-be-conscripts will
be sent to the army regardless of their wishes. YABLOKO insists
that alternative service should take place in the social sphere,
health care and the Ministry for Emergency Situations. Borschyov
also expressed his bewilderment as to why the draft prepared by
the Defence Ministry was presented by the Minister of Labour.
See also:
The
Russian Army
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